2014 Reading Year in Review
I feel like at the end of every year, I’m always saying “this was not one of my better reading years.” This was yet another year of setting my goal to 100 books and not even coming close to reaching it, but that’s okay! Goals are good, but I’m not going to beat myself up over it. When I was younger, I would sit and read for hours on end. I would wake up in the morning and just start reading and not stop. I can’t do that anymore since I have actual adult responsibilities now (bummer!) but I still try and read as much as I can.
2014 Reading Statistics
Total books read: 42
Age Level
Adult books: 31
Young adult books: 7
Middle grade books: 3
Fiction / Nonfiction
Fiction: 30
Nonfiction: 11
Most Commonly Read Genres of 2014
Chick-lit / women’s fiction: 12
Parenting: 6
Mystery: 5
2014 Favorite Reads
These are my favorite reads of 2014, in the order that I read them. I read a lot of great books this year but these are the ones that I enjoyed the absolute best:
- The Fat Bridesmaid by Brooke Zaras – This debut novel featuring an overweight woman who wants to lose weight really resonated with me for many obvious reasons. I loved the story, its characters, and how easy it was for the average woman to relate. It also happened to be both sweet and fun at the same time!
- Cure for the Common Breakup by Beth Kendrick – This chick-lit novel about a break-up themed town was adorable, funny, and witty. I loved the setting and the characters were fantastic.
- Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell – Another amazing YA offering from the uber-talented Rainbow Rowell about a pair of twins who go off to college and start living distinct, separate lives. One twin struggles while the other thrives. I could relate SO MUCH to Cath, who had to learn to live life on her own terms and struggled horribly with being away. Rowell is just a damn good writer, and I found so many similarities between Cath and myself.
- Beyond Hollywood Strip by Shamron Moore – The sequel to Hollywood Strip (which landed on my 2013 favorites list) and a total guilty pleasure. Shallow, vulgar, scandalous, and thrilling… but I absolutely love them! Sometimes, you just need a little brain candy.
- A Pinch of Ooh La La by Renee Swindle – A fantastic women’s fiction story about a woman from a very large family who, after a terrible heartbreak, is looking for love again. She meets a wonderful man, but there are many obstacles in the way. The vibrant cast and family dynamics really stood out for me.
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – This story of a missing wife and her shady husband was probably my number one favorite read of the year. It lived up to all the hype for me, and I’m only sad I didn’t read it sooner!
- The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans – RPE is one of my favorite authors and I can never get enough of his sweet, touching Christmas stories. This one, about a pair pretending to be a couple for the holidays, was as good as all his others!
Final Thoughts
All things considered, I’d say my reading year was not too bad. Obviously, I always wish I had read more but this year was another one of big changes. Buying our house meant lots of time spent on renovations, housework, and projects. The even bigger factor was my pregnancy — I’ve been pregnant since April, and with that came exhaustion, sickness, and fatigue. Many evenings found me slumped on the couch in front of the TV rather than with a book in hand. So while my numbers were low, it was for good reasons and I have no regrets!
My book club is still going strong (since September 2013) and has been a lot of fun. We started as a Forever YA chapter, but weren’t always thrilled with the reading choices, so we’ve mostly been choosing our own mix of adult and YA. We’re all guilty of slacking sometimes, but the monthly meetings are always fun — full of food, conversation, and laughter (often about everything BUT the book). We even did a Gone Girl night with dinner and the movie, plus a Christmas party and Secret Santa. I love it!
I also read more nonfiction than usual, mostly parenting and pregnancy books. What to Expect When You’re Expecting was a gift from a friend and I read it throughout the year. I enjoyed many humorous pregnancy books as well — I’ll share some mini reviews of those soon.
Not surprising that my most commonly read genre was chick-lit / women’s fiction… it’s still my favorite!
How was your reading this year, and what were some of your favorite books?
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