Jackie's Top 10 of 2013

::Post by Jackie Lindert::

I read a lot of great books this year, especially YA. I also read a lot of books that were just so-so. Here is a list of my favorites! 

1. Just One Day by Gayle Forman

2. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

3. The Program by Suzanne Young

4. Arcadia Burns  by Kai Meyer

5. Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes

6. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

7.The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey  

8. Sever by Lauren DeStefano

These final two are NA, but I just had to include them in my favorites of 2013:

9. Light in the Shadows by A. Meredith Walters

10. Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire

If you haven't read them, you should! There was no competition; these were indisputably my top ten. I'd love to hear whether you agree/disagree or have recommendations for me! 

Happy New year, and happy reading!

April Top Five

April was definitely one of those months where I had so much to read and I don't feel like I accomplished very much. But here are my top three from this month, and numbers four and five are Jackie's top reads!

1. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

I still haven't really sorted out my feelings from this book and I kind of think I'm unhappy with it in general. I mean, I was never able to pick it up without sobbing. But still, there's something in a book that has the power to rip out your soul that makes it pretty fabulous. 

2. Unraveling and Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris 

Yeah, I'm including both of these as one here, but I read them so close together and they're both incredible. I'm a little mad at myself for waiting so long to read Unraveling, but at the same time it was awesome to be able to jump right into Unbreakable. I'll have reviews for these up this week! 

3. The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett

This book was so much fun and it was a different take on the paranormal world. Plus, its impossible not to love a character like Dusty who's sarcastic, witty, and endearing. Read my full review HERE. 

4. Light in the Shadows by A. Meredith Walters

Jackie says: This was a great conclusion to the Maggie and Clay love story that I fell desperately for in Find You in the Dark. Getting inside Clay's head was amazing. We all wanted to know what his craziness felt like. Check out my review HERE!

5. The Program by Suzanne Young

Jackie says: This book surprised me in so many good ways. I just loved the originality of the story, and the detail and mystery that made it come alive are STILL bouncing around in my head. Book 2 yet? Please!? Read my full review HERE.

What were your top reads this month? 

Light in the Shadows - A. Meredith Walters

*Review by Jackie Joyce
 Synopsis: How do you keep going when you feel like your life is over? Maggie never thought she’d see Clay again. So, she attempts to put her life back together after her heart has been shattered to pieces. Moving on and moving forward, just as Clay wanted her to.
Clay never stopped thinking of Maggie. Even after ripping their lives apart and leaving her behind to get the help he so desperately needed. He is healing...slowly. But his heart still belongs to the girl who tried to save him.
When a sudden tragedy brings Maggie and Clay face to face again, nothing is the same. Yet some things never change. Can the darkness that threatened to consume them be transformed into something else and finally give them what they always wanted? And can two people who fought so hard to be together, finally find their happiness? Or will their demons and fear drive them apart for good?
The thing about love, is even when it destroys you, it has a way of mending what is broken. And in the shadows, you can still see the light.

When I read Find You in the Dark, I was an emotional wreck. Maggie and Clay dug up some painful memories of high school and what it was like to be in love with someone in the unhealthiest of ways. The raw emotion and the insane passion these two share was just as addicting for me to read about as it was for them in the book. Light in the Shadows was an amazing follow up book.

I love that with Maggie and Clay, A. Meredith Walters doesn't fall into the stereotypes of some popular books out today that describe what is clearly an unhealthy relationship, but romanticize it to make it ok. It's SO not ok. And as much as your heart aches at how much these two love each other, it is obvious that they are spiraling. Instead of dancing around these issues, this book takes them head on. It is so refreshing to read a book that points out when you are losing your independence, your friends, and the respect and trust of your family, you are probably involved in something you shouldn't be.

I have also never read about someone in mental health treatment, and I think Clay really stands out as a hero in Light in the Shadows for getting help. I LOVE that as a reader, I got to experience his therapy with him. It didn't shut the door or give a brief summary about the meeting. The conversations made so much sense, and even someone who doesn't suffer from the extremeties of Clay's emotions could probably learn a thing or two about dealing with life's issues.

My favorite part about this book, though, was that I literally could not decide whether or not I wanted Maggie and Clay to be together. That might sound crazy, but Walters does such an incredible job at describing how toxic they can be to each other. In most other books I read, I know what characters are supposed to be together, and I just read patiently until it happens and it all works out happily ever after. In this book, I started getting scared. I love these two together, but I honestly started wondering whether or not they would end up together (in a healthy way or not), or if I even wanted them to...for their own sakes. 

Again, my heart is still recovering from this book. I wanted to hug both Maggie and Clay the whole time I was reading it. The first book takes you right of the edge of the cliff with them, and this one pulls you back up. I would recommend this book to everyone who likes reading about real issues, and real, passionate, messy-but-amazing relationships. You won't be able to put it down.