The 104 Book Challenge - 2016 discussion

I tend to read a) YA and NA and b) books written by women, so I'm going to attempt to branch out this year and add in some non-fiction (I'm actually a non-fic editor by trade, so I tend to be sick of it by the time it's time to pick something up to read for pleasure!) and maybe even some literary fiction (Which normally kind of makes me roll my eyes. That probably makes me a dick.), and more books written by dude-mens.

In any case, here's what I've started the year off with thus far:

1. Six of Crows by Leigh Badugo – finished in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Freaking fantastic fantasy.
2. Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid– finished in Battambang, Cambodia. Didn't love it at the start, but was extremely pleased with it by the end.
3. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli – finished on the airplane from Cambodia to Singapore. I *adored* this!

4. In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware – finished on my couch. It didn't really live up to the hype for me, but it is quite an unsettling, twisty mystery. Definitely enjoyed it more than The Girl on the Train (which I actually thought was really predictable?), that's for sure.

5. The Devil You Know by Trish Doller – finished during a lightening storm. A story that keeps you off-kilter nearly all the way through that is incredibly well-plotted and executed.

6. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard – finished while the Chelsea v. Arsenal match was on in the background. I super enjoyed this! It's Red Rising meets Throne of Glass meets The Selection. :)

7. Leaving Amarillo by Caisey Quinn – finished way past my bedtime. Steamy, quick read that will keep you turning the pages. Left me a bit cold at the end, but it is the first of a series, so though it's not a cliffhanger per se, I'm sure the story picks back up in the second book.

8. Asa by Jay Crownover – finished while having lunch in the park. Wasn't my favorite of the series, but it was a nice way to tie everything up.

9. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven – finished in bed. A raw, brave piece of writing. I think I admire the book more than I enjoyed it, but it's definitely worth a read.

10. Loving Dallas by Caisey Quinn – finished on the second day of Chinese New Year. The sequel to Leaving Amarillo, the love story here is sweet, the country music tour backdrop is fun, and it's quick.

11. The Trouble with Destiny by Lauren Morrill – finished on an overcast day. Classic-feeling YA that takes place on a cruise ship. I loved that the main character is a drum major for a band and all of the band hijinks, but I felt the romance was flat and rushed, making the HEA not all that satisfying.

12. The Fever by Megan Abbott – finished on Valentine's Day. Not YA, but about an outbreak of a mysterious illness at a high school. The premise hooked me, but it didn't deliver the way I hoped. Still a fun, fast read though.

13. Bookishly Ever After by Isabel Bandeira – finished on a lazy Saturday. Super cute concept for a YA novel, but I did find the first half quite slow.

14. Part Time Cowboy by Maisey Yates – finished at 1 a.m. My first Maisey Yates! I loved the Lorelei Gilmore feel that was infused into the main character's banter.