2018 Reading Challenge

I tried (and failed) at this challenge last year – though I did get to ten of them, so that’s pretty good.

My only rule I am making for myself is that it cannot be a 2018 book. These have to be books that were published in 2017 or earlier.

#2-30 were chosen at random using random.org and my TBR spreadsheet. The rest are books i really want to get to this year!

1. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2. The Snowball Effect by Holly Nicole Hoxter
3. The Woman in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
4. Openly Straight by Bill Koningsberg
5. Every Breath by Ellie Marney
6. Wildthorn by Jane Eagland
7. Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
8. Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers
9. Boomerang by Noelle August
10. Every Soul is a Star by Wendy Mass
11. The Countdown Conspiracy by Kate Slivensky
12. Once and For All by Sarah Dessen
13. Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes
14. Land of a Hundred Wonders by Lesley Kagen
15. The Passage by Justin Cronin
16. Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia
17. The Last Best Kiss by Claire LaZebnik
18. The Lying Game by Sara Shepard
19. Pivot Point by Kasie West
20. The Quartet by Joseph J Ellis
21. The Boleyn King by Laura Andersen
22. The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore
23. You Deserve a Drink by Mamrie Hart
24. Dreamfall by Amy Plum
25. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
26. We are Quiet, We are Loud
27. Summer Skin by Kirsty Eagar
28. The One That Got Away by Bethany Chase
29. Wicked Little Wildfire by Lana Popovic
30. Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver
31. Shiny Broken Pieces by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton
32. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
33. Mr Mercedes by Stephen King
34. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
35. The Map of Time by Felix J Palmas
36. Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor
37. The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
38. Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas
39. Dear Martin by Nic Stone
40. Endsinger by Jay Kristoff
41. Overwhelmed by Brigid Schulte
42. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
43. The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker
44. In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce
45. Willful Machines by Tim Floreene
46. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
47. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meghan Spooner
48. The Queen of Tearling by Erika Johansen
49. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
50. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

2017 Query Stats

It is that time of year where I get to share my query statistics! If you want to compare, here is the post from last year (Though I track more this year!)

I have answered all my queries through Dec 18th, so I am counting through then.

First, the basics – how many did I get, how ,any did I request, and how many were specifically genres I say I am not looking for, didn’t follow the guidelines, or were already published.

	Queriers	% Total
Total	3855
Didn’t Follow Instructions	461	11.96%
Already Published	28	0.73%
Not My Genre	320	8.30%
Waste of Time	781	20.26%
Rejected	3715	96.37%
Partial	140	3.63%
Fulls	17	0.44%
Offers	6	0.16%

20% is up from last year – then it was 17.5%.

I received 3,855 queries. I only requested partials for 3.63% of them. I am being much pickier than I was in previous years.

I am being even pickier about what I request to a full. It has to REALLY stand out.

I made the one more offer than I made last year.

I also broke things down by genre. Both what I received, and what I requested partials of.

Paritals requested

MG	Contemporary	9
MG	Horror	0
MG	Historical	0
MG	Mystery	1
MG	Fantasy	6
MG	Science Fiction	1
YA	Science Fiction	10
YA	Mystery	1
YA	Fantasy	25
YA	Historical	6
YA	Magical Realism	1
YA	Contemporary	19
YA	Horror	2
Adult	LGBTQ Romance	3
Adult	Women’s Fiction	14
Adult	Historical	7
Adult	Science Fiction	11
Adult	Fantasy	7
Adult	Horror	1
Adult	Romance	3
Adult	Mystery	3
Adult	Thriller	2
Adult	Nonfiction	2

I am not surprised – the genres that I requested the most are also the genres I read the most and tweeted about wanting the most!

And these are the rejected by genre. I included genres i don’t represent like picture books, chapter books, literary fiction, and memoir.

MG	Contemporary	84
MG	Horror	7
MG	Historical	34
MG	Mystery	19
MG	Fantasy	159
MG	Science Fiction	39
YA	Science Fiction	165
YA	Mystery	16
YA	Fantasy	452
YA	Magical Realism	9
YA	Historical	76
YA	Contemporary	255
YA	Graphic Novel	1
YA	Horror	13
Adult	LGBTQ Romance	19
Adult	Women’s Fiction	267
Adult	Historical	351
Adult	Romance	210
Adult	Mystery	186
Adult	Thriller	326
Adult	Nonfiction	131
MG	Chapter Book	22
MG	Picture Book	17
Adult	Literary	289
Adult	Horror	21
Adult	Science Fiction	126
Adult	Fantasy	207
Adult	Memoir	137

 

In the coming weeks, I’ll be looking at these stats and see what kinds of MSWL I would like to add, or if there are any genres I don’t want to look for anymore.

Hope this gives some insight!

2017 Reading Stats

Thanks so much to Jamie at Perpetual Page Turner for doing this again! She’s the best, you should follow her on all social media.

Statistics:

Number Of Books Read: 108

Adult: 24
YA: 72
MG: 5
Graphic novels: 7

Genre Break down:
YA fantasy: 15
YA Science fiction: 10
YA contemporary: 44
YA historical: 2
Middle Grade contemporary: 1
Middle grade fantasy: 4
Adult fantasy: 4
Adult science fiction: 1
Adult contemporary romance: 6
Adult paranormal romance: 3
Adult historical romance: 1
Women’s fiction: 5
Nonfiction: 5
Books with male authors: 17
Books with female authors: 92
Books by marginalized authors: 54

1. Best Book You Read In 2016?

There were a few that stood out above all the rest

Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert
Like Water by Rebecca Podos
Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman
At the Edge of the Universe by Shaun David Hutchinson
Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff
Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

The Empress – I loved the first book in the series, but the second was…not for me

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  

Wintersong by S Jae-Jones – it’s based on my least favorite mythology, but it was fnatastic

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

Little & Lion – I told everyone to read it!

 5. Best series you started in 2016? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016?

Sequel: Godsgrave
Series Ender; Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2016?

Brandy Colbert (How did I not read her first book???)

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman

 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

A Poison Dark and Deadly by Jessica Clueless

 9. Book You Read In 2016 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

None

11. Most memorable character of 2016?

Kiko from Starfish

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2016?

The Gallery of Unfinished Girls by Lauren Karcz

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2016 to finally read? 

Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most

At the Edge of the Universe

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Mia and Mr Kindly (GG) and all the lumberjanes

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2016 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Jane, Unlimited

21. Best Book You Read In 2016 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

Like Water

23. Best 2016 debut you read?

Starfish

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

The Dark Days Club – I felt like I was there

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Looking for Group by Rory Harrison

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2016?

Like Water

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

The Gallery of Unfinished Girls

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Godsgrave – so much soul crushing.

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2017 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2018?

The Hate U Give. I know. I started it a couple days ago!!

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2018 (non-debut)?

The last book in the Nevernight Chronicles

3. 2018 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Sanctuary by Caryn Lix

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2018?

Obsidio

6. A 2018 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

SANCTUARY!

Also, As You Wish by Chelsea Sedoti