A to Z Book Survey

Thank you Jamie @ The Perpetual Page Turner for your always inspiring posts, including this awesome book survey. Check out Jamie's original survey, HERE.

I tried to repeat books as little as possible on this list: 

Author you've read the most books from:
Sophie Kinsella. Definite guilty pleasures. I've read 11 of her books, though I DNF'd her most recent Wedding Nights. I've never read any of her books under her original pen name though. 

Best sequel ever: 
Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta. Even better than Finnikin of the Rock, but the whole series is FANTASTIC. 

Best 3rd book in a series: The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner. These books just keep getting better. 

Currently Reading:
Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

Drink of choice while reading:
Chai lates - made with my aeroccino milk frother and featuring Slightly Sweet Oregon Chai. 

E-reader or physical book?:
I prefer physical books because I can hold them and share them. However, I'm a much faster reader on e-books, because I read on my phone and can do it in little snatches, more than I'm able to with a paper book. 

Fictional character you probably actually would have dated in high school?:
Stephen Dene - British, proper, analytical, a bit geeky - from The Name of the Star or Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables 

Glad you gave this book a chance:
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. Everyone RAVES about this series, but the first book was a slow go for me at first. So much so that I almost gave up. I want to kiss everyone who told me to keep going! It's amazing. 

Hidden gem book series:
I'm listing three - Cate Tiernan's Immortal Beloved series. Elizabeth Hunter's Elemental Mysteries (A Hidden Fire) series and Samantha Young's Warriors of Ankh (Blood Will Tell) series. Love how the romance progress throughout all three of these. They're not your standard PNR. Hunter's series is vampires and not YA.  The other two are YA and have their own unique mythologies. 

Important moment in your reading life:
Joining the Outlander read-athon last year. It prompted me to begin blogging later in the summer! Through it I also met some of my best blogging friends. 

Just finished: 
Haze by Paula Weston. It was AWESOME. Haze is the second in the Shadows series coming from Australia. Put these books on your radar - major swoon with amazing characters! Also, GORGEOUS covers. See my Shadows review, HERE. 

Kinds of books you won't read:
Non-fiction that is dry. I like memoirs and historical non-fiction as long as it's very readable (flows like a novel). Anything else is too much like a text book. 

Longest book you've read: 
The Pillars of the Earth (973 pages)

Major book hangover because of:
Me Before You by JoJo Moyes. This one was tough for me, but it made a major impact and I couldn't stop thinking about it. Sobbed for days after I finished. One of the most impact-ful love stories I've read recently. 

Most recently, Shadows and Haze by Paula Weston (see above on those). 

Number of bookcases you own:
 3 right now of adult/YA books plus one of kids  but they're not all large. It would be a lot more if I had room. I have many books in boxes. 

One book you have read multiple times:
I'm not a big re-reader, but I've read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee more times than any other book. Because I also list that book below under my favorites, I'll say Rebecca by Daphne Du Marier, which surprises and delights me (and freaks me out) every time I read it. 

Preferred place to read:
Ideally, the beach. But I don't like to do that a lot any more. At home either the couch or my bed. 

Quote that inspires you, gives you all the feels from a book you've read:

Reading regret:
Putting too much hope and faith into final book of the Unearthly series. Guys, I'm still crushed about Boundless. With my loathing of love triangles, I should have known better. I'm currently trying to prepare myself for the same thing with Ignite Me. But I'm finding myself hopeful again. Please don't break me, T.Mafi!

Series you've started but need to finish (all books are out in the series):
Uglies by Scott Westerfield. I promised my friend I'd do it this summer (she's been bugging me about it for years!). I need to read books 2 and 3. 

Three of your all time favorite books:
To Kill a Mockingbird, Jellicoe Road, The Scorpio Races

Unapologetic fangirl for:
Melina Marchetta. Every book she's written has blown me away. 

For an indie author, I'd say Colleen Hoover. I love her so much. She wrote a book and self-published it herself, and now BAM look at her. I can't wait to see what else she writes. 

Very excited for this release more than all the others:
Just One Year by Gayle Forman

Worst bookish habit:
Reading too much on Goodreads about a series I'm interested in, or am hesitant about. Lots of opinions or spoilers usually makes it harder for me to pick it up. EXCEPT for The Mortal Instruments. No regrets for finding out THAT big secret ahead of time. I don't think I could have made it to book 3 without knowing. 

X marks the spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:
Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette by Sena Jeter Naslund (My mom lent it to me ages ago. I have not read it.)

Your latest book purchase:
One by Leigh Ann Kopans - A fun PNR with superheroes. Read on my drive back from vacation. 

Zzzzz-snatcher book. Last book that kept you up way too late:
Nowhere But Home by Liza Palmer. Read it at the beach and it was a perfect happy read, featuring great character, good food and Texas charm.