Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Armchair BEA: Best of 2012 and Giveaways!



Day two of Armchair BEA: an event for those of us sitting at home/work/beach (ah, beach!) rather than making our way through the bustling crowds at NYC's Book Expo America. Starting today, BEA is Live Streamed on the host blog.

GIVEAWAY!

I'll choose one random commenter (U.S. only this time) with your choice of these 2 books:

YA: I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert

Urban Fantasy: The Guardian by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Just let me know which book is your preference along with a way to contact you. Don't forget to stop by the participating blogs for more giveaways!

My Favorite Books Read in 2012:
  1. The Fault in Our Stars - John Green. Published in early 2012, this one is worth reading even if you've never touched a Young Adult book in your life (or if you're new to the genre and riding the Hunger Games wave). It's a story about real teens, no magic here, dealing with cancer. And it's funny. It's also heartbreaking, but I promise you'll laugh.
  2. Between Shades of Gray - Ruta Sepetys. This actually came out last year but it's the paperback edition came out recently. With the buzz surrounding that other "grey" book, sales of Between Shades of Gray have picked up. Some clueless folks, or possibly dyslexic who knows, actually showed up to Ruta Sepetys' blog tour, surprised to hear about the surviving refugees of World War II occupation of the Baltic nations rather than a personality-free girl wanting naughty sex. Let's just hope they bought the book and learned a bit of history in the process.  
  3. Black Heart - Curseworkers #3 - Holly Black. The author creates a truly original YA series about a contemporary world with a twist; people's unique magic-like abilities are exploited by the mob. Cassel is character who is tough and an underdog to root for. Listen to audiobook to hear Academy Award nominated actor Jesse Eisenberg narrate. 
  4. Catching Jordan - Miranda Kenneally. How YA contemporary fiction should be done. This is a story about a female quarterback on the high school football team; they totally accept her, which is part of the issue. Is she just one of the guys, or can she manage a romantic relationship? What happens when she's recruited by her top college, will they take her seriously, or think she just wants to play cute girl and not play ball? This book is not cliche, and it's a fun journey.
What are your favorite reads from 2012? Are there books you're excited to see debut this year? Please share! Don't forget to check out the giveaway link, you might find some books from your wish list there!

22 comments:

  1. Great post and great blog name!

    The Book Mystress, x

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  2. I'm 10 blocks from BEA and regretting my decision not to go! I love your book choices for the month. The Fault In Our Stars is AMAZING and I loved Between Shades of Gray (and wondered if the other book would lead to more sales for this one...so thank you for that anecdote) I've been very curious about the I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone book. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

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  3. I have been trying to get my hands on that Joey Ramone book forever. Good thing I am browsing with my Goodreads open.

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  4. I can only imagine how many people are getting the grey books confused, LOL. I haven't read Between Shades of Grey, yet but if I have to choose one of the "Grey" books, I'd definitely choose that one over fan fiction. 0_o *groan*

    Plus, I absolutely love reading about WWII!

    Allison
    Well-Read Reviews

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  5. I really enjoyed Fault in Our Stars and STILL have Between Shades waiting for me (love that story of confusion - the books couldn't be more different). Great choices!

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  6. Wow, I haven't read any of these. I will definitely check these out. Thanks for stopping by.
    --Jenese

    http://readersconfession.blogspot.com

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  7. Great choices! I loved The Fault in our Stars so much... beautiful story. I want to read Catching Jordan too... I've heard that was really well done. Oh an Between Shades of Gray too. Fine, I want to read All The Books!

    Thanks for coupling this with a giveaway too! If I am lucky enough to be your winner, I would love to win I Wanna be your Joey Ramone! Thanks!

    Sarah @ SarahReadsTooMuch.com

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  8. I would love to win The Guardian by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Thanks for the giveaway!
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

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  9. I loved Between Shades of Gray, too. I love John Green but I've been warned away from it by a close friend who knows I can't stomach books with cancer in them. So, I have to just twiddle my thumbs, waiting for his next book!!!

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  10. The Fault in Our Stars is on my list...thanks for sharing your favorites, and for visiting my blog. Enjoy the week!

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  11. Thanks for the giveaway! I'd love The Guardian by Sherrilyn Kenyon!

    ashley (at) booknook (dot) me

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  12. I'm not in the US, so don't enter me. :)

    But, I loved Black Heart and Catching Jordan, too. Amazing books! :D I haven't gotten the chance to read my copy of The Fault in Our Stars yet, but I'm sure I'll love it. :D And I've also heard great things about Between Shades of Gray. :)

    Great choices! :D
    Ambur
    My Armchair BEA Giveaway

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  13. I've heard nothing but great things about Between Shades of Gray, Catching Jordan, and The Curse Workers series. I loved TFioS!

    I hope you have a great BEA-filled week!

    ~Christina (and the other Book Hookup Litbrarians)
    The Book Hookup's Best of 2012

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  14. I really love John Green and The Fault in Our Stars was so so good!!

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  15. Great giveaway - I like your site!
    I really want to read Catching Jordan! I have a hard time finding good YA contemp that I like.
    And if I win the Joey Ramone book looks cool.
    Check out my giveaway at http://abookinhand.com/?p=2398

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  16. Thanks for the giveaway! Happy ArmchairBEA :)

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  17. I really hope to read Catching Jordan soon, I hear such good things about it and it looks like something I'd love - a friend managed to snag an ARC of Stealing Parker and said it was madness there.

    Thanks for stopping by my post!

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  18. @Ashley: I did not know about "Stealing Parker." Sounds like it's in the same universe (school, ha) as the other book. Awesome!

    Since so many commented I'll give both books away and contact the winners soon. Thanks everyone!

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  19. Guess I should have paid better attention to the rules. I'd love the opportunity to win I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Stephanie Kuehnert. Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

    I hope you have a great BEA-filled week!

    ~Christina (and the other Book Hookup Litbrarians)
    Book Hookup’s aBEA giveaway: One book of your choice!

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  20. I've read all of the books you've read this year, and my absolute favorite is the Fault in Our Stars! I'm a huge fan of the Curse Workers series too.
    I'd love to win The Guardian. Thanks for the giveaway!
    laceyblossom1@gmail.com

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