Terrible Titles

I was tagged by Katy Upperman for this challenge. You can check out her post here!

The rules of the blog hop are simple: Scroll through your manuscript and stop in random places. Whatever words/phrase the cursor lands on becomes one of eight terrible titles.

I cracked open IN REAL LIFE, my 2016 release, and scrolled through it to find some title choices. 

1. The Devil On My Shoulder 

2. Break Through The Chains Of Your Good Girl Shackles 

3. This Random Parking Lot 

4. Easter Peep On Speed 

5. Across A State Line 

6. You're Hardly A Dude To Me 

7. Big Boobs All In My Face 

8. I'm Trying To Hate Her

So...I don't think these titles really tell you all that much about the book. But maybe if you added a few of them together?

I don't really tag people, but this is pretty fun, and you should definitely do it if you have a ms to play with! Post your results!

Superlatives Giveaway Winners!

Thanks so much to everyone for participating in the Class of 2014: YA Superlatives blogfest! Alison, Katy, Tracey, and I had such a blast sharing all of our 2014 favorites with you guys, and we loved reading about your favorites, too!

We promised some winners, and we are delivering! We chose four winners from the people who participated in every day of the blogfest. Each of these four winners will win a copy of the 2014 release of your choice!

Rachel (Beauty & the Bookshelf)

Elodie Nowodazkij

Sophia L

Nicole (Quality Fangirls)

We also have a bonus winner! The amazing Kelsey Macke generously donated a copy her debut novel Damsel Distressed to one of our participants! So congratulations to Sarah Chafin for winning that awesome book!

Winners, please get in contact with Katy to claim your prize. Include your mailing address and the book of your choice, and we'll get your book out to you ASAP. 

Happy holidays, everyone!

Class of 2014: Best In Show

It's the last day of the blogfest! Thank you all so much for playing along with us and sharing your favorite 2014 releases! Alison, Katy, Tracey, and I have had so much fun hosting you all this week, and we've loved reading about everyone's favorites. I don't know about you all, but I've certainly added some new books to my TBR pile!

Remember to hop around to the other blogs on the linky below to see everyone else's choices. And at the end of today's post, everyone chose their own superlative category, so make sure you weigh in on all of those.

Here are my picks for today (and remember, these are the 2014 books that I read this year)... 

Favorite Cover

To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

So, I haven't read this book yet, but I absolutely love the cover. I'm partial to any cover with a gorgeous Asian girl on it, and this one is particularly beautiful.

Cutest Couple

Reagan and Matt in Open Road Summer

I loved these two so much!

Most Likely to Succeed (Pick a Printz Winner)

I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

This was the best book I read this year. Amazing.

Most Likely to Make You Miss Your Bedtime

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

You're definitely going to want to read this in one sitting so you can figure out what happens.

Best Repeat Performance (Favorite Sequel or Follow-Up)

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

I read it and then immediately read the whole series again. That's how good it is.

Favorite Finale or End of Series Novel

 

Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

and

Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan

Romance Most Worthy of an Ice Bath

Alienated by Melissa Landers

Aliens have never been so sexy.

Best Breakout Novel (Favorite Book by a Debut Author)

Because I'm a 2014 debut myself, I don't really feel okay about picking a favorite from all the awesome One Four books I read and calling it the BEST. So a huge shout out to all of my fellow debut 2014 YA authors I had the pleasure of reading this year!

Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae

Behind the Scenes by Dahlia Adler

The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

Damsel Distressed by Kelsey Macke

Camelot Burning by Kathryn Rose

17 First Kisses by Rachael Allen

Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

The Break Up Artist by Phillip Siegel

No Place To Fall by Jaye Robin Brown

Trust Me, I'm Lying by Mary Elizabeth Summer

Breakfast Served Anytime by Sarah Combs

Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington

Alienated by Melissa Landers

The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

Best Old-Timer (Favorite Book Published BEFORE 2014)

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

I can't believe it took me so long to read this amazing book. 

Most Likely to Make a Grown Man Cry

Damsel Distressed by Kelsey Macke

This book brings the feels! 

Most Pleasant Surprise (Didn’t Think I’d Like It But Totally Did)

Camelot Burning by Kathryn Rose

This isn't entirely true...I love Arthurian legend, so I knew I would love this book. But this one is the book most outside of my normal reading patters that I really loved.

                                                                                                         

Most Creative Use of a Love Triangle

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

I wrote this about The Raven Boys for this category in 2012's Superlatives: "So you think Blue is going to hook up with Gansey. AND THEN SHE DOESN'T. What are you doing to us, Maggie? Well, I don't even care. I know I'm going to love it, regardless. "

Yup. Still. LOL.

Sleeper Hit (Novel So Awesome I Wish It’d Been Hyped More)

Breakfast Served Anytime by Sarah Combs

This quiet little book was so excellent, I wish more people knew about it.

Favorite Outlier (Best 2014 Picture Book, Middle Grade, NA, or Adult Novel)

  

 

MG: The Lost Planet by Rachel Searles & When Audrey Met Alice by Rebecca Behrens

NA: More Than Music by Elizabeth Briggs

Adult: Make You Mine by Macy Beckett

Make My Own Category

Favorite Novella

Just One Night by Gayle Forman

I loved getting the conclusion to Allyson and Willem's story!

Ok, everyone...that's it! Thanks so much for playing along! Be sure to drop your linky in the list, answer my bonus question in the comments, and visit everyone else's blog. And check back, because if you participated every day of the blogfest and you're all linked up, you are eligible to win the 2014 release of your choice! I hope you guys had a great time...I know we sure did.

Class of 2014: Elements of Fiction

Welcome to Day Three of the Blogfest! I hope you all are having as much fun with this as Katy, Alison, Tracey, and I are!

Okay, let's get to today's choices. (And, as a reminder, here are the 2014 books I read this year.)

Most Envy-Inducting Plot (Or, the plot you wish you'd thought of yourself.)

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

Maggie Stiefvater's brain is a weird and wonderful place.

Most Formidable World (Or, the setting you most definitely would NOT want to travel to.)

Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

I have zero desire to visit anywhere that is being attacked by giant insects.

Wanderlust-Inducting (Or, the setting you'd happily travel to.)

Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae

Rome is one of my favorite places on Earth. I'd love, love, love to go back. (And reading this book made me feel like I was there.)

Loveliest Prose

Breakfast Served Anytime by Sarah Combs

I loved the writing in quite a few books I read, and I feel like those books will get lots of love from other people. In addition to those, this debut really stood out. Writing you want to savor.

Most Dynamic Main Character

Jude and Noah in I'll Give You The Sun

These two grow and change in such compelling ways throughout this novel. 

Most Jaw-Dropping Ending

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

There were some things I figured out about this book as I read, and there were some things that were complete shockers at the end.

Best Performance in a Supporting Role

Ronan in Blue Lily, Lily Blue

(Drawing by the ridiculously talented Maggie Stiefvater)

My love for Ronan Lynch is no secret to anyone who has talked to me about these books for more than 5 seconds. God, what a character.

Best use of Theme

Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

Laini Taylor did such a beautiful job of weaving the theme of hope throughout this entire trilogy.

If you played along on your blog, leave the link to your post below. If not, tell me some of your choices in the comments. And come back tomorrow for the last day of the blogfest! 

Class of 2014: Popularity Contest

Thanks for joining Katy, Alison, Tracey and me over here at the Class of 2014: YA Superlatives Blogfest again for the popularity contest! The linky is at the bottom, so add your link and the then hop around to visit everyone's blog!

Now, on to today's categories, where we can pick characters from any 2014 book! (In case you need a reminder, here is what I read this year.)

Class Clown

Kami in Unmade

Even in the midst of complete upheaval of her town and life at the hand of sorcerers, Kami never fails to bring the hilarious one-liners. 

Most Likely to Become a Rock Star

Amber in No Place To Fall

With that voice, it's pretty obvious that Amber is going places.

Mostly Likely to Start a Riot

Vivienne in Camelot Burning

I don't think Vivienne would start a riot on purpose...

Biggest Flirt

Cole in Sinner

This guy never turns it off. He even flirts with his limo driver, and I love him for it.

Fashion King and/or Queen

Isabel in Sinner

Isabel moved to LA and started working in fashion, and she ended up with the hottest leggings in town.

Character You’d Most Want For Your BFF

Reagan in Open Road Summer

I feel like Reagan would take none of my crap, and that's exactly what I need in a friend. 

Character You Wish You’d Dated in High School

Josh in Isla and the Happily Ever After

As much as I love Etienne and Cricket, I think Josh may be the most "my type" of any of Stephanie Perkins's boys. 

Most Likely to Become President

Gansey in Blue Lily, Lily Blue

I vote for Gansey in this category every year, but how can I not?!

Quirkiest Characters

Jude and Noah in I'll Give You The Sun

These twins are both quirky in their own way, and it's glorious.

Villain You Love to Hate

The Greenmantles in Blue Lily, Lily Blue

I kinda want to be BFF with Piper?

Favorite Parental Figure

Kami's dad in Unmade

Kami's dad also wins every year, but that's because he is the absolute best.

Coolest Nerd

Imogen in Damsel Distressed

Imogen is into theater, and some people think that's nerdy. (I think it's awesome.)

If you participated today, leave the link to your Popularity Contest below...then hop around and see what everyone else picked today! Be sure to come back tomorrow for Elements of Fiction!

Class of 2014: Head of the Class

Welcome to the Class of 2014: YA Superlatives Blogfest, hosted by me, Katy Upperman, Alison Miller, and Tracey Neithercott. We can't wait to read about all of your favorites of 2014!

If you are participating in the Blogfest on your own blog, please leave a link to your blog in the linky tool at the bottom of this post. You can find this linky tool on each of the hosts' pages, and be sure you link the individual URL for today's post. And once you link your blog, make sure you click around and comment on what everyone else has chosen!

Oh, and remember...if you participate every day of the Blogfest you are entered to win a 2014 release of your choice!)

Now, on to my picks! (For reference, here's a list of the 2014 releases I read.)

Favorite Dystopian

So, I definitely reached my dystopian burnout point. I didn't read anything I would consider dystopian this year. Not a single book! So, no favorite dystopian for me this year. Womp womp.

Favorite Science Fiction

Alienated by Melissa Landers

Sci-fi isn't always my thing...but adorable alien romance totally is!

Favorite Fantasy

Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

The conclusion of this trilogy was about as fantasy as I get, but I absolutely loved it.

Favorite Contemporary

I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

Jandy Nelson's writing is perfect.

Favorite Action/Adventure 

Trust Me, I'm Lying by Mary Elizabeth Summer

You know a book about a teen girl grifter is going to have some edge-of-your-seat action.

Favorite Historical Fiction

Camelot Burning by Kathryn Rose

Ok, I admit that labeling a book about a steampunk version of Arthurian legend historical fiction is a bit of a stretch. But it takes place in the past. And England is a real place. And it's fiction. And I loved this book. So this is where I'm putting it. 

Favorite Comedy

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

I always consider rom-coms in the comedy category. And, honestly, the first few chapters of this book literally made me LOL.

Favorite Mystery

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

I loved being lost in Cadence's head and trying to figure out what happened to her as she did.

Favorite Romance

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

This book has a lot more going on than romance (true friendship and self-discovery FTW!), but I have to admit that this romance is one of my absolute favorites ever!

Favorite Paranormal 

Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan

Lots of sorcery happening in this final book in the trilogy. (Also lots of Kami and Jared.)

Favorite Genre Bender

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

This series defies all classification and I absolutely love it. 

Come back tomorrow for the popularity contest, highlighting all of those awesome 2014 characters.

If you have posts for the Class of 2014 Blogfest, leave a link to your blog below! Then hop around and comment on everyone else's choices. Even if you aren't participating, be sure to check out the bloggers who have posts up.