Holy crap…tomorrow Andi’s ABCs will be 3 years old! That is insane to me. Completely insane that I have been doing this crazy thing for 3 years. Like most I have had my ups and downs and my blogging lulls but I truly love it and that is why I’m still going strong. Make sure you read the whole thing as the giveaway is at the bottom!
Highlights of 2015:
- A New Blog Design: In early 2015 I decided to upgrade to a self-hosted WordPress blog and to change the design of things. It took a lot of trial and error and changing of things but I have found a design I like. Next step is to get a custom designed blog that is done just for me.
- More Moderating Fun: Last year I was asked to moderate a panel for the first time and it was no joke. It was for Sarah Maas and AC Gaughen and the crowd was huge. In 2015 I was lucky enough to moderate 2 more signings/events. In June (I think it was) I was asked to moderate a panel for AC Gaughan (again!) and Tiffany Schmidt. The two of them were kind enough to come to Porter Square Books and have a small event. It was a lot of fun chatting with this ladies as I know them so it was super low key and relaxing. I even got to throw in a random Boston sports question which was fun. Then in September Sarah from What Sarah Read and I
co-moderated a panel for the Boston Teen Author Fest. It was Sarah’s first time moderating and she did a fantastic job and the authors made us both so at ease. I feel truly grateful for this community and for these opportunities.
- HOLY WOW MOMENT: In April I was contacted by the lovely Erica at Bloomsbury and was asked if I would be interested in reading Emery Lord‘s next book When We Collided so I could be blurbed in the ARC. I mean WHAT??? SAY AGAIN??? You want me??? The only catch was it had to be done in a certain time frame so I had to drop everything and drop everything I did. Besides being the book being fantastic it was truly an honor to be asked
to do this and when I saw my words in print in an ARC it was even more amazing. Oh and did I mention I then got a signed copy of the ARC?? HOLY WOW Indeed! - BEA (1 & 2): I was lucky enough to go to Book Expo America again in 2015 and to get to go as press which didn’t happen last year. As a not so new blogger I felt 2015 BEA was very different from 2014. In 2015 I really got to hang out with people and talk and relax. I got to see Estelle more times than I could imagine (I saw her once in 2014) and
I got to hang out with Jamie for a day (I only saw her briefly in 2014) and I got invited to some fabulous events hosted by publishers. It was seriously one of the best times. I got to hang out with some of my favorite people. What can be better than that?? - Meeting Sarah Dessen: A month or so before BEA I was asked by Penguin if I would be able to go to Sarah Dessen‘s signing and interview her. Me…interview Sarah Dessen? I so wanted to say yes. Sadly I couldn’t because of location and timing. I
was bummed to say the least. But then something remarkable happened. I was invited to a lunch at BEA with Sarah Dessen and Carrie Ryan (Daughter of Deep Silence) as the guests. It was truly amazing to finally meet her and to gush with her over Veronica Mars. Pinch me. I swear I was dreaming. - My Anna Collection: If you read this blog or know me you know my love of Anna and the French Kiss. My collection had been progressively growing. At the end of February (after the horrendous
winter we had in Boston) I posted my Anna/Lola/Isla collection on Twitter. Well imagine my surprise when the sweet, sweet Stephanie Perkins saw my collection and offered to help it grow by sending me foreign edition of Anna (which we decided was the best course of action since that is my book. I was in awe when I got the package of books and when I got the next package. I may have never meet Steph in person but she is one of the sweetest I have ever not met. - #PocketLetterABCs: With my new found crafting mojo I found a thing online called Pocket Letters and I decided to bring it over to the book blogging community. I ran a swap at the end of November and it seemed to go really well. It was fun to get to be crafty with my other book nerds and I will be doing another one later this month.
The Books:
I was a little slow in my reading in 2015. In total I only read 117 books (I say only because I read 158 last year). But I did read some really good, high quality books and got some rereads done so that made me happy. I was really bad at reviewing some of the ones I loved which I vow to be better about in 2016. But here are some of my favorites out of the 4.5/5 star reads.:
The Last Time We Say Goodbye: This book tour out my heart in the best of ways. It was so so good and it was unexpected for me. I hadn’t heard a lot about it but man was it fantastic.
Queen of Shadows: Sarah once again destroyed me with her writing and story telling. Queen of Shadows was so so good. Honestly I can’t stand how good it was. Did it go the way I expected…nope. But I think it went the way the story should have. Can’t wait to see what is in store in 2016.
What We Saw: I haven’t gotten around to reading this one but Hannah (The Irish Banana) suggested this one to me to make a priority and it was fantastic. It read like a really great Lifetime movie and I didn’t want it to end. It was real and it was raw and it was amazing.
The Summer of Chasing Mermaids: Sarah Ockler has yet to write something I haven’t loved. I was scared with this being based on The Little Mermaid but Sarah did it in such a fantastically subtle way that you can’t help but fall in love with the beauty. Give me more books Sarah!
The Deal: I totally found this book when it was blowing up with chatter on my Twitter timeline. And I have never been more happy that I did. It is so great. Like beyond words great. I highly recommend this New Adult Series.
The Lies About Truth: Another book I read and loved but didn’t get to review yet. I can’t say enough great things about Courtney Stevens’ second book. It was such a great story with amazing characters. I mean I loved her first book, Faking Normal, and this one blew it out of the park.
2016 Favorite Books
The Mirror King: Jodi Meadows follow-up to The Orphan Queen is just fantastic. It is a must read book if you loved the first one. Honestly I loved it even more than The Orphan Queen. I’ll be reviewing closer to publication day.
When We Collided: My blurb in the ARC says it all…this book is fantastic. Emery Lord hit it out of the park. I can’t wait for you all to read it and love it like I did.
Built: This is just out this week but I got to read it early and LOVED LOVED LOVED it. I had binge read all of Jay Crownover’s Marked Men series and this spin off was the best out of all the Crownover books I have read. Zeb is just amazing.
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I had a great year of blogging in 2015. I got to meet some really cool authors and bloggers and make some really great friends. I read some fantastic books and had some opportunities I never thought I would. I found my crafting mojo and have found my love for planners. When the year started I had no idea where it would go. Everything was a mystery and that is what’s great about a new year. And what leads to my 3 year blogiversary giveaway:
I thought about what I wanted to do for this and it came to me. I am going to do a mystery giveaway of some of my favorite things. You will have no idea what you will be getting. I promise at least one book (may be a book I read in 2015 or may be a book I just love or something yet to be released). The rest you will have no idea.
The giveaway is US Only (sorry foreign friends) and will run until 11:59PM EST on 1/31/15. Giveaway accounts will be disqualified.
I’m not sure what I hope is included in the mystery giveaway… But just want to wish you a HAPPY BLOGAVERSARY!! You have had such a freaking amazing year of blogging and I hope this next year will be even more awesome. I’m so glad I’ve gotten to talk and get to know you more this year! 🙂
Happy Happy Anniversary! I loved participating in the Pocket Letters project and hope you run another one this year.
Happy Anniversary!!!
I would like to see anything by Brodi Ashton or anything YA involved in the mystery package and thanks for the giveaway!! 😀
A hardcover of Morgan Matson’s “Second Chance Summer” haha.
Happy blogoversary! I’m hoping the summer of chasing mermaids is in the mystery package! I asked for it for Christmas but my husband couldn’t find it in our bookstore.
Congrats!
I would love any horror/paranormal/mystery book!
Thanks for the chance to win and HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY!
What an amazing year. To see everything you did and know you’ve been at it for only 3 years is inspirational. I really enjoyed the Pocket Letters Project and I am excited to know there will be another one soon! Happy 3 years!
Wow girl, what an AMAZING year!! Happy Blogoversary!! <3
Happy Anniversary!
Book: something Anna related of course
Happy 3 year anniversary! That was a mind blowingly amazing year, i hope this year is as good if not better. Any book would be great especially if you are the one suggest it.
I’m not what I hope you’ll include. You have never steered me wrong on book recs! Happy Anniversary!!!
I’m crossing my fingers on the Mirror King! I just got The Orphan Queen for Xmas and am excited to read them both!
Happy 3rd Blogiversary!!! ??? Anything you choose for the mystery package I know would be awesome, so I have no expectations!
Happy 3rd Blogiversary Andi. I think any book you chose to put in there would be amazing.
WOW! Three years!!! Congrats on that! That’s amazing, and that Anna collection! Woow.
I’d love it if there was a Mirror King in the mystery box myself 😉 Thanks for the giveaway!
Happy Blogiversary!!!!! I would love absolutely anything! I love surprises!
Happy blogiversary!! Having a mystery prize is so fun. I’d love for a 2015 YA fantasy book to be included.
Happy Blogoversary!!!!!!! 😀
I wouldn’t hope for a particular book, it’s more fun when you have no idea what it might be! And thank you for doing this giveaway! 🙂
Happy blogiversary! I’m glad you had such a eventful and happy year! 🙂
Happy Blogoversary ♡ I would love any books you giveaway! Thank you
Happy blogiversary!!! You had such an amazing year and you’re already kicking off 2016 with ALAMW! I hope we get to meet and hang out for longer this year!
Popping in to wish you a happy three-year blogoversary – CONGRATULATIONS! I know we don’t *know* each other, but I see you/your name on Twitter all the thing and I swear you’ve been blogging for 45934859048 years! My three-year blogoversary was just about a month ago. Here’s to many more years of lovely posts and reviews! 🙂
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
Happy Blogversary! 😀
Happy, Happy Blogoversary! Three years is an incredible time. I hope you have many more blogging years ahead of you. I will be happy with any thing you decide on, although I wish I could have The Wrath and the Dawn. I thought it was terrific and can’t wait for the sequel. Thank you!
Truthwitch, baby! Congratulations on your blogoversary. Thank you for the giveaway~
Happy Blogiversary! Books of course!
Happy Blogoversary! It looks like you had a fantastic bookish 2015! Any YA or YA fantasy would be awesome, but I am still dying to read The Wrath and the Dawn or The Young Elites!
Happy Blogoversary! 😀 Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard.
Thank you!
Happy Blogiversary!!! Condratulations!
You panel that you moderated sounds like it was awesome! I would love to just be able to meet those wonderful ladies! I love reading your reviews and look forward to those in the future.
I would probably want some sort of Fantasy in there.
Oh goodness, didn’t spell congratulations correctly. Meh…
Girl, I don’t care what’s in the mystery package. You know me and my book tastes, and always give me stellar recommendations when I don’t know what to read! I know you’ll give me something right up my alley if I win 😉
I’m hoping The Lies About Truth will be the mystery book!
Happy blogiversary! What a year you had!
I’m hoping the book is one from The Lunar Series! I recently heard of the series and am nearly rushing to finish my current series so I can start it!
Congrats!!! Ur blog is one of my fav!
Def hoping Winter by Marissa Meyer is in there! 😀
Happy Blogoversary, dearest friend! 3 years – crazy! I’m so glad we have gotten to know each other. I count you as one of my favoritest. 😀 Here’s to many more years to come.
(Yay for The Summer of Chasing Mermaids! That book has sooo flown under the radar.)
Hm….too many to name!
Happy 3 years of blogging, darling Andi! You’ve definitely accomplished a lot of things and there’s going to be so much more ahead for sure. So glad we became friends! <3
Happy blogiversary! I’m hoping Firstlife by Gena Showalter is included.
I’m not sure, maybe Iluminae.
Happy blogiversary!! What an achievement! Here’s to many more years of blogging! 🙂 I’m really hoping An Ember in the Ashes and Red Queen is in there!
Happy blogiversary!! Congrats on 3 years! I can’t imagine this accomplishment but I hope to make it there one day. I’d love to see any of your favorites you mentioned above!
Congratulations on your blogoversary! Here is to many more! There are so many great books, I’m sure whatever is in the mystery box is wonderful.
Happy Blogoversary! I’m hoping Built in the prize. It has a very handsome cover.
I honestly don’t know what I hope is in the mystery prize. I love getting mystery books. I think it is fun and exciting to not know what I am going to get!
Happy blogoversary! You already know I love you. I hope there’s a copy of The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend and if I don’t win, you should still read it, Andi!
??
Yowza! Those are some incredible moments you had in 2015! What an experience it would be to not just attend book events but also help put them on AND OHMIGOSH, YOU’VE BEEN BLURBBED! Happy Blogiversary, Andi 😀
(Also, I would be crossing my fingers for Anna and the French Kiss. I *still* haven’t read it!)
[…] I also will be moderating my second Sarah J. Maas signing with Sarah from What Sarah Read. I was blurbed for the ARCs of Emery Lord’s book When We Collided. And I am a feature review name on Amazon for Miranda Kenneally’s book Breathe, Annie, Breathe. […]