My Favorite Books of 2012!

Last year around this time, I wrote a blog post on my favorite books of 2011.  I’ve decided to make the post an annual tradition and so I have listed below my Top 10 Books (or series) of 2012.  I read, on average, a book a week.  I am often asked how that is possible given how many other things I have going on and the answer is, I have absolutely no idea.  The only answer I can provide is that I devour books as if they are going the way of the Chilean Sea Bass – extinction.  I can’t get enough.  Given the volume of books I read this year, just because a book does not appear on my favorites list does not mean I didn’t thoroughly enjoy it. 

In no particular order:

Blame it on the Fame by Tracie Banister  – This sexy, drama-filled book about the high-stakes Oscar awards reminded me of the Jackie Collins and Judith Krantz novels from the late 80s and I could absolutely see it as a television mini-series like Hollywood Wives or I’ll Take Manhattan. I wish there were more of these books!

The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins  – For ten days, I ate, breathed and slept Katniss, Peeta, Gale and the rest of the crew from District 12 while I read The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay.  I was even tempted to order Groosling at a restaurant.  Sadly, it wasn’t on the menu.  I am ashamed to admit that for a brief period of time I was more concerned with the well-being of Peeta Mellark than my own flesh and blood.  My obsession with The Hunger Games paved the way for many other YA Dystopian novels onto my Kindle.  So far, although I have enjoyed a few, nothing has really compared.

I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella – Ah, what can I say about Kinsella?  She knows how to create endearing and adorable lead female characters like nobody’s business and Poppy Wyatt was no exception.  This book was classic Kinsella, outlandish but hilarious and fun with a capital F.    

Haole Wood by Dee Desario – I read this book while having my hair cut and highlighted.  The combined process takes over 3 hours and while I usually feel claustrophic in the chair, I was having too much fun reading the hilarious banter between Jaswinder Park and her naked guardian angel to realize how much my butt hurt from sitting in the same spot for so long!  

Grace Unexpected by Gale Martin –Similar to the above, I read this book while trapped in a chair – this time a chair in an airplane during a 6.5 hour flight from New York to Seattle.  Again, under normal circumstances, I am miserable while flying yet despite the non-existent arm and leg room and the turbulence, I was too busy contemplating the two choices in Grace Savage ’s sexy love triangle to notice.

Here (On the Otherside) by Denise Grover Swank – I might not have read this book had I not enjoyed The Hunger Games so much and if it had not been written by Denise Grover Swank, the author of one of my 2011 favorites, Twenty-eight and a Half Wishes.  I find the idea of an alternate dimension to be so fascinating and I loved the characters in this book.  My enjoyment of this book also led to my present addiction to the television show Fringe! The sequel, There is supposedly coming out this month. I’m waiting!    

Finding Lucas by Samantha Stroh Bailey – This book was definitely chicklit at its finest.  It was hilarious, touching and basically un-put-downable.  The characters were so well fleshed out, I felt like I knew them.

The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service by Beth Kendrick – I would recommend this funny chicklit novel to any dog lover.  The personalities of the dogs in this novel were better fleshed out than most secondary human characters in books.  Canines aside, the relationships between the main character and her parents also felt very real.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell – I’ve actually read this book twice since April.  I LOVED everything about this book. I loved the characters, the storyline, the relationships, the ending.  Everything.  The main character Lincoln was incredibly endearing as were the two main female characters Beth and Jennifer.  I loved being a fly on the wall reading their email exchanges.  I’m 100% certain I will read this book again.      

Thank you for Flying Air Zoe by Erik Atwell – I loved this laugh-out-loud story about Zoe Tisdale as she reunites with her best friends from high school in an attempt to put her band back together.  It was refreshing to read a book that stepped outside of the usual stereotypes of women turning 40.  Not everyone gets their shit together or hits all of the standard milestones at the same time.  This book featured four fun, quirky attractive, intelligent women who are old enough to know better and young enough to do it anyway.  Kind of like me 🙂 

Honorable mentions also go to Breaking the Rules by Cat Lavoie, Fashioning a Romance by Libby Mercer, Daydreamer by Brea Brown and Build a Man by Talli Roland.

The books of 2013 have some big shoes to fill but my Kindle is ready and waiting!  Bring it on!

13 Comments

  1. Brea B. on December 19, 2012 at 2:52 pm

    Thanks for the mention, you big sweetie!

  2. Samantha Stroh Bailey on December 19, 2012 at 3:14 pm

    Thank you so much, Meredith! I am touched, honored and giddy.

    Samantha Stroh Bailey

    • meredithgschorr on December 19, 2012 at 4:59 pm

      And your name is NOT Sarah 🙂 Sorry about that!

  3. Cat Lavoie on December 19, 2012 at 3:18 pm

    Thank you for the honorable mention, Meredith!! 🙂 That is an awesome list!

  4. Tracie Banister (@traciebanister) on December 19, 2012 at 3:22 pm

    Well, now I know what it feels like to win an Oscar! 🙂 Seriously, I am deeply honored (or “chuffed” as Miles and Philippa would say) to be included on this list, Meredith! I hope that I can keep entertaining you with future books. Thank you SO much! 🙂

    • meredithgschorr on December 19, 2012 at 4:59 pm

      I have no doubts that you will continue to entertain me 🙂

  5. deedetarsio on December 19, 2012 at 3:23 pm

    Mahalo for including me in this impressive list, Meredith, and for helping to add to my reading list! (Based on your taste in books we are already BFFs!)

    • meredithgschorr on December 19, 2012 at 5:00 pm

      You’re very welcome and glad I could add to your reading list!

  6. Susan Buchanan on December 19, 2012 at 4:28 pm

    Great books. I’ve read some of these. Interestingly, I came across Attachments on GR only yesterday and added to my TBR, so the fact that you are lauding it, has raised its profile for me. I will also be doing a 2012 best books next week. Some of those you have listed are on it! Sooz

    • meredithgschorr on December 19, 2012 at 5:01 pm

      I definitely recommend Attachments! HIGHLY. I hope you’ll read A State of Jane first though of course 🙂 I plan to read your books in 2013 and just maybe we’ll be on each other’s lists next year!

  7. thebookfetish on December 19, 2012 at 5:02 pm

    Thank You For Flying Air Zoe was one of my favorites, too. I really enjoyed how clever it was. And of course the U2 and Go-Go’s shout outs!

    I’ve got a few other of your favorites in queue to read- looking forward to them.

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