My Top Six Books of 2012 (so far)!

Hi, everyone! :)

I know it's not the end of the year yet, but I just wanted to show you my Top Six Books of 2012 so far because I know that it's going to be impossible to choose a bare minimum by the end of the entire year! (Have you noticed how many amazing books have been coming out? I had a hard time narrowing it down, and we're only halfway done!) So here they are:

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My Top Six Books of 2012 (so far)

(Click on titles for links to Goodreads.)

1. Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross

Mini-summary: (fairytale re-telling) Mirabelle Lively runs away from her godmothers' home to her birthplace to discover her secret past. But in Beau Rivage, curses are real and magic is dangerous, and Mira is about to discover that everyone living there is not what they seem...

Why I love it: This is my absolute FAVOURITE book of all time (just like Blue is my favourite book boy of all time)! And I mean that it used always to be so hard for me to choose one, but reading this book made it  easy because it tops everything else. I know that a lot of people have mixed feelings about it, but it's just so creative and beautiful and heartbreaking and brilliant that I can't help but think of it every time I close my eyes. If you haven't read Kill Me Softly yet, please do! :)

2. Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

Mini-summary: (werewolf paranormal romance/mystery) Lupine syndrome is on the rise across the country. When Mackenzie's best friend Amy is murdered by a werewolf, a mystery unravels that shows her a side of the story that's more complicated and amazing than Mac ever could've imagined.

Why I love it: Werewolves + mystery + awesome main character + a swoon-tastic romance = one amazing worthy-of-being-on-this-list read! This book was addictive to the Nancy Drew wannabe in me, but it will also appeal to anyone who loves werewolves or at least knows how to admire a heroine who can tell it like it is. And Kathleen's also a Canadian author, which is like the icing on the cake! ;)

3. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Mini-summary: (high fantasy) The once-great nation of Ravka is torn in two by a mysterious Shadow Fold that harbors flesh-eating monsters and an impenetrable darkness. But Alina Starkov might be the key to ending that, if only she can figure out who to trust and what to believe in a world that strives on secrets.

Why I love it: I'm sure you guys have at least heard of this once book before (if not, you can read my 5-star review HERE), and I promise that every bit of praise about it is absolutely true because this is my favourite high fantasy book to date... and it's overall one of the best books of the entire year! The world, the characters, the secrets, the romance... *fans self* So good!

4. Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Mini-summary: (Greek mythology re-telling) Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned — to her old life, her family, her friends — before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

Why I love it: For one thing, Greek mythology re-tellings are almost always made of awesome and this book is no exception! And for another thing, this book just broke my heart over and over again. Nikki is one of those characters you want to wrap up in a blanket and cry with, and Jack and Cole... *seals heart in an envelope and sends it off to them* Two of my favourite book boys ever!

5. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Mini-summary: (angel book) Clara Gardner is part angel, part wholly confused teenage girl with a purpose — which she as an angel was put on Earth to accomplish — she can't understand. But as Clara begins to learn more about a growing battle between White Wings and Dark Wings, she must face the terrifying visions that foresee the death of someone she loves.

Why I love it: I cried like a baby while I read this book. I was a blubbering mess, clinging to tissues, wondering how one author could create a cast and a story so heartbreakingly beautiful that it could affect me that much. It's by far the best angel book I've ever read, and while it may not have been the most fast-paced, it certainly sets up the stage nicely for the final installment in the trilogy! :)

6. Destiny's Fire by Trisha Wolfe

Mini-summary: (paranormal romance/steampunk/totally awesome) It’s the year 2040, and sixteen-year-old Dez Harkly is one of the last of her kind — part of a nearly extinct race of shape-shifters descended from guardians to the Egyptian pharaohs. As the enemies start to invade Haven Falls, Dez's world crumbles when she discovers secrets that will change the way she sees things and the way her friends will see her.  

Why I love it: Gosh, this is just one of those books you don't expect to be anything more than average but end up being SO SO GOOD. This is one of the most original, bad-ass, perfectly fast-paced without skimming over the epic world-building, and completely addicting books I've ever read! I loved Dez as a kick-butt heroine, and I loved the originality and awesomeness of the world. More books should be like this one! Please take notes, other authors ;)

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And these are 6 of my personal favourites of the year! Each and every single one of them is a book I finished in one sitting, became completely addicted to, and developed that bookish syndrome for where my fingers itch to pick it up again every time I pass it on my bookshelf. In short: They're AMAZING and ADDICTIVE and kind of PERFECT. Buy-worthy? Absolutely!

My list is probably so different from most of yours since I realize I picked a bunch of underdog-ish books, But I recommend them all wholeheartedly! I own a copy of every single one of my shelf, and just talking about them to you makes me want to re-read them all over again.

Since there are still months to go, here are some future releases that I anticipate will be added to my favourites list when I get the chance to read them, or future favourites as I like to call them! :)

(Click on covers for links to Goodreads.)

What are some of YOUR current or future favourites? :)

-Mimi