I’m celebrating 8 years of book blogging later this November and, to celebrate, I thought I’d write a couple of blog posts about it all.
I mean, blogging has been such a massive part of my life for the past years and I can safely say: it has changed me, as well. It has changed the way I read, obviously, the way I find new books, the kind of books I read, as well. It has turned me into a bit of a different person, which has had some great and some bad sides, at times. More on that later, though 😉
Today, I wanted to focus on all the books. I’ve read an INCREDIBLE amount of books thanks to book bloggers’ recommendations over the years and I really wanted to highlight some of them, so… here goes!
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2014
I started book blogging in late 2014, so I am cheating a little bit here with my pick, forgive me!
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, Michelle Hodkin
I just wanted to mention this book as the most notable one in this first year, because it messed me up completely and still is, to this day, one of my favorite books.
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2015
2015 was my first full year of book blogging! I started adding a whole damn lot of books to my TBR thanks to bloggers and also started reading on their recommendations, as well.
I’ll Give You The Sun, Jandy Nelson
This highly popular book at the time was, most likely, one of the very first books I’ve ever read because of book bloggers. I don’t know how I’d feel about re-reading it now, but at the time, it ended up on my favorites list. I loved the characters, the emotions, everything about this book deserved, for me, the hype it got!
Honorable mentions
- MORE THAN THIS messed me up completely.
- EMMY & OLIVER made me fall for friends to lovers romances even more.
- SANCTUARY BAY was one of my first e-ARCs and, wow, it was a rollercoaster!
2016
I read 21 more books in 2016 than in 2015, so I think we can safely say that this year, something happened. I graduated, I read a whole lot more thanks to book bloggers, as well.
The Wrath and the Dawn, Renee Adhieh
This book was one of the most popular fantasy stories, at the time and… I gave into the hype, a little bit uncertain. I was mesmerized by the writing, the story and really, really fell for this book. Once again, thank you, book bloggers.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Honorable mentions
- THE SUMMER OF CHASING MERMAIDS: I read this one thanks to a blogger that isn’t blogging anymore, now, but… thank you. This was such a gem.
- THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE: and so are my tears, because I sobbed like a baby.
- A LIST OF CAGES: this was an e-ARC I got lucky to receive and… well, sobbing like a baby as well. Excellent book.
2017
I keep on reading, reading and reading, reaching a new record of 73 books A YEAR. I don’t know how I read that much, but I overall had lots of very good reads, so… YAY!
Girl out of Water, Laura Silverman
My first encounter with Laura Silverman happened this year. To this day, she’s still one of my favorite authors of all times, so… I’d say that’s good.
I remember finding out about this book thanks to blogging (thank YOU!) and just, falling head over heels for it. This is an incredible story about finding home away from home, finding yourself again, it has such incredible characters and has my entire heart.
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Honorable mentions
- THE FORBIDDEN WISH: to this day, one of the BEST Aladdin retellings I’ve ever read in my life.
- I’LL MEET YOU THERE: this excellent YA contemporary broke my heart into a million pieces. I love it.
- QUEENS OF GEEK: My first Jen Wilde book! Excellent story about fandom, with characters I adore.
2018
2018 was another fantastic reading year, with yet again 73 books read! Looking back at it, I realize I read SO many excellent books. It was so hard to pick just one. Yet, when I really think about it, I know I had to mention this one.
Eliza and her Monsters, Francesca Zappia
Eliza and Her Monsters held a mirror in front of me and told me “oh, this is you”. This book is the very first time I saw myself, related so deeply, so painfully to another character, as well. Since this book, I’ve been looking actively for more ya books with anxiety rep and, yeah. It changed my life a little bit.
Add to Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Honorable mentions
- EMERGENCY CONTACT: this book just felt so raw and real. It’s another book where I could see bits of myself in and it just felt, different and absolutely excellent.
- NOTHING LEFT TO BURN: this book’s a freaking masterpiece and I adored it okay.
- OUR YEAR OF MAYBE: I wish I could write a book like this. Here, that’s my praise. Friends to lovers, heartbreaking relationships, brought me to tears. Excellent.
2019
2019 was a good year overall, I often think back about it and things that happened fondly. Funny that, reading-wise, it also ended up being the BEST reading year of my life, so far… if you’re thinking about numbers. I’m not sure it was the BEST, content-wise, but I read a whooping 75 BOOKS. Something that has never happened before and will, most likely, never happen again.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid
Obviously, I have to mention the book that took the book community by a storm in the past few years: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. After hearing about it left and right, I caved, read it and. Well. It blew my mind and still is, to this day, one of my favorite reads of ALL times.
Honorable mentions
- IF I’M BEING HONEST: my second encounter with Austin & Emily’s books and my favorite YA book by them, so far. Absolutely adored their fierce, unapologetic main character.
- YOU ASKED FOR PERFECT: performance anxiety, this book called me out and I did not like it. I LOVED IT.
- WHEN THE STARS LEAD TO YOU: a cruelly underrated, absolutely excellent YA contemporary about love and depression. Broke my heart. 200% recommending it.
2020
2020 was a complicated year, for everyone in the entire world, I guess. My life changed at the end of the year, as well, so my reading count kind of plummeted. I read 62 books this year, but still found some incredible gems.
One Way or Another, Kara McDowell
Remember Eliza and Her Monsters above? One Way or Another is another one of these books where I just saw myself in, so obviously it deserves this spot. Loved the anxiety rep, the friends to lovers, the main character’s growth, SO much. Definitely recommending this one always.
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Honorable mentions
- IT SOUNDED BETTER IN MY HEAD: This is THE book teenage me wished she had in her life. Relatable, adorable, wonderful, just so, so good.
- MISS METEOR: This book has everything I love. Soft friendships, friends to lovers, siblings, small town vibes, a little bit of magic. It was wonderful.
- GIRLS WITH SHARP STICKS: twisted, messy, this book made me SO ANGRY and want to smash the patriarchy. I loved it.
2021
Personally, 2021 was a full year of a different life. Obviously, my blogging and reading have changed a little bit because of it. The time where I read 75 books a year is long gone: in the past year, I read 51 books. Still a good number, and what matters is that I read some truly excellent stories I don’t think I’ll ever shut up about.
The Ones We’re Meant To Find, Joan He
I don’t think I’ll ever, EVER get over this book. I know it wasn’t for everyone, but personally, it BLEW my mind, made me scream, made me sob, made me, just, feel everything. It’s one hell of an experience I’d recommend everyone to have.
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Honorable mentions
- CRIER’S WAR: It usually takes me a long time to read hyped books. That’s what happened with Crier’s War. Yet, I wish I read this sooner, because I was blown away and I AM OBSESSED OKAY.
- ACE OF SPADES: Another book that, if you ask me, completely deserves the hype. A rollercoaster, a riveting story about elitism and racism that blew me away.
- A CUBAN GIRL’S GUIDE TO TEA AND TOMORROW: I cried, maybe that’s all you need to know? Okay I cried for personal relatable reasons, but this book was beautiful, gives you all the England countryside vibes, all the love and tea and pastries and it’s just, great.
2022
This year! As I’m writing this, I have read 48 books, so I’d say I am on track to read as much as the year before. Quality-wise, I feel like I haven’t read as many books that really, clearly blew me away as before, but. I still found some little gems, so, yay!
Exactly Where You Need To Be, Amelia Diane Coombs
In the past years, Amelia Diane Coombs easily made her way into my top YA contemporary authors. This most recent release of hers just got me. I adored the mental health (ocd, anxiety) rep, the road trip, the friendships, the soft, slow-building relationship. This book just, I loved it.
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Honorable mentions
- SEE YOU YESTERDAY: Rachel Lynn Solomon did it again! After Our Year Of Maybe, definitely my favorite book by her with time-travel set in college!, absolutely incredible slow-burning relationship. I’m obsessed.
- PARACHUTES: I was deeply infuriated while reading this book. Yet, I couldn’t stop reading. It’s about power and corruption and speaking up and, ugh, I’m angry just thinking about this book. It’s SO GOOD and so important.
- WITH AND WITHOUT YOU: when your favorite author duo decides to write about long-distance relationship. It’s like they knew I needed this. That’s all. Loved this.
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For more YA book recommendations, check out these blog posts:
- 10 sex positive YA books that explore sex (awkwardly) right
- 20 Books To Gift to the YA Contemporary Lovers in Your Life
- 10 Fast-Paced, Addictive YA Books To Get You Out Of A Reading Slump
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I didn’t think Evelyn Hugo was going to be quite for me either but then I read it and absolutely loved it too. Congratulations on 8 years!
Thank you so, so much! So happy you loved it as well! 🙂
I love your post! I recently read A Cuban girl’s guide to tea and tomorrow and really liked it!
One of my favorite books ever, for sure! <3
Great post! This was probably a lot of work. I’m not home now, but I’ll check out some titles I’ve never heard of before when I’m back.
Thank you so much! Hope you’ll find new books to add to your TBR! 🙂
Happy Blogiversary! 8 years!
Thank you so much!!
I also found Emmy & Oliver and Evelyn Hugo through blogging. Such great books.
Agree, they’re incredible! <3 thank you so much for stopping by!
I loved this style of celebrating blogging years in books. Happy 8th blogging anniversary!
Thank you so, so much, so happy you enjoyed it!! 🙂
The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo holds my soul tbh! It’s a stunning book 🤩 and there are so many books on this list on my TBR! I should really get around to reading some
Agree, it’s SUCH an incredible read, I love it so much 🤩
I discovered the Mara Dyer through series, but TWATD is definitely one of the best books I’ve read that I discovered through blogging! Same with If I’m Being Honest & You Asked for Perfect, in fact I think picked them up because you talked about it a lot! (especially If I’m Being Honest!)
Ahh this means so much, thank you 🥺🥺 so happy you discovered them here and enjoyed them 🥺
I’ll Give You The Sun is one I’ve heard about but not yet picked up – maybe I should! I also have a friend who loves Patrick Ness, but I’m not sure if his books are for me. I should probably look into them too though and give them a chance! This is such a great post idea, and it’s incredible you’ve been blogging for so long!
Zoë
zbestbooks.blogspot.com
(my computer is playing up so i think i may have commented on the wrong post a couple minutes ago, a comment very similar to this. I apologise!)
Ahh you should give I’ll Give You The Sun a try, I really loved this book. I haven’t read all of Patrick Ness’ work, but this one has really stayed in my mind for all of these years. An impactful read, for sure. If the synopsis intrigues you, give it a try! 😀
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, Zoe!! <3 <3
Wow! Look at you being a blogging staple for the past 8 years! This was such a fun look both into past popular books, but also your personal favorites throughout the years!
What I found most interesting was that up through 2018, I had read all the books you mentioned, whether or not they were personal standouts to me, but then from 2019 on, I only had read one or two of the honorable mentions. I think this might be since I don’t read much YA anymore. I’m sure if there were lots of adult romances on the list, I’d have read many more!
Thank you so, so much Malka! <3 <3 I get that, and it's fun to see how your reading change and grows, as well. I feel like I've stuck to YA a whole lot, but have been reading a little more adult lately. Maybe in a few years, I'll have way more adult romances in this kind of post :D
I’ll Give You the Sun is one of my favorites and based on the books you have loved through the years, I’m so happy to have found your blog for recommendations!
Ahh yay! I’m so glad we love some of the same books! I hope I can help you add some new, great ones to your to-read list! 🥺
I think the unforgettable books for me would have to be The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa, The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare, Chicagoland Vampires series by Chloe Neill, Guild Codex: Spellbound series by Annette Marie and then Eliza and her Monsters. I’m sure there’s more but these are ones that live in my mind rent free. As you can see I am very much an urban fantasy/paranormal type of reader hehe.
I adored this post and really loved the layout Marie! Happy blogoversary love 💜
I haven’t read any of these books, except from Eliza and her Monsters… seems like I need to try them out! 😀 Thank you so, so much for all of your love and support over the years, it means so much <3
Awesome post! The only one I’d read from your list is I’ll Meet You There, which I really loved. I’d read a lot of good books over the past few years; We Were Beautiful by Heather Hepler, My Life in the Fish Tank by Barbara Dee, and reread My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick to name a few.
Thank you Melanie! Oohhh I loved My Life Next Door, such a fantastic read. I’ll have to check out these other books you mentioned! Thank you! 🥺
This is such a fun way to look back at the past years of blogging! I feel like I have to talk to you in DMs about how you’d feel if I stole (by that I mean fully credit you for the idea and link back to you) this style of post for my anniversary next year. *Sigh* nostalgia is in the air with some of those titles. Girl Out of Water, Queen of Geeks, Ace of Spades, The Rose and the Dagger – those are just some of the memories.
Ooh well of course, feel free to use the idea if you like it, I’d LOVE to see the books you pick!
Definitely felt nostalgic writing this post. I wonder how I’d feel re-reading some of these books, now. Hopefully I still love them ahah!
I’m so certain that I wouldn’t enjoy some books as much as I used to, but I love the memory of them regardless. Some books are just meant for different phases in your life.
Agree! 🙂
what a fun post! Especially a super fun post for a book blogger. Loved this so so much! There are still so many on this list I haven’t read, so I still have to work on that, but congrats for 8 years. you should feel so so proud of yourself. With all the ups and downs, you stayed strong and consistent. xx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
Ahh thank you so, so much Melina, so happy you enjoyed it and so, so grateful to have met you thanks to blogging <3
Ohh I loved seeing what books you read in all your time blogging!! It’s so interesting to go down memory lane and see what books you liked years ago ❤️ Queens of Geek!! I still remember reading this for the first time and it meant so much to me 🥰
Oh thank you so much, so happy you liked this! <3 I have such fond memories of Queens of Geek, such a fun book <3