Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner has been recapping her reading each year with this book survey, which got me thinking about my own reading habits. While I did reach my own personal book goal (52 books this year; I somehow surpassed that!), it felt appropriate to reflect on my larger habits and patterns than just the number itself.

I did make some changes to Jamie’s original survey. For instance, I don’t really distinguish between debut and non-debut authors, nor do I usually track rereads. Otherwise, read on!

What did my 2015 in books look like?

Stats

Number of books read: 84
Number of pages read: 23,976
Genre you read the most from: YA Fantasy (or so I guesstimate)

Best Of…

Best book you read in 2015? Oh god, this is so hard. It’s a tie between Andy Weir’s The Martian and Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. They’re two completely different books but equally stunning in their own right.
Book you were excited about and though you were going to love but didn’t? Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. I had such high expectations but didn’t like this at all. I’ve been told the next few books are better, so I’m going to give it a second chance.
Most surprising (good or bad) book you read in 2015? Station Eleven. It came out of nowhere and went from a book I didn’t know anything about to one of my all-time favorites.
Book you “pushed” the most people to read (and they did) in 2015? Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Best series you started? Sequel? Series ender? The Winner’s Curse/The Winner’s Crime. This series is still in the works, and I didn’t really read any other series this year, let alone end one. I’m excited to read the next installment, but not so much for the change in covers…
Favorite new author you discovered in 2015? Patrick Ness (new-to-me, at least)
Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/out of your comfort zone? I don’t usually do contemporary, and this topic wasn’t my normal pick, but I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios was great.
Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year? The Martian by Andy Weir
Favorite book cover of 2015? A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Most memorable character of 2015? Baz Pitch (Carry On)
Most beautifully written book? Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Most-thought provoking/life-changing book? Brave New World by Aldous Huxley – I have fond memories discussing this book with my AP kids. Some of the most thought-provoking and mature intellectual conversation I’ve ever had.
Book you can’t believe you waited until 2015 to finally read? Cinder by Marissa Meyer (so good!)
Favorite passage/quote from a book read? I don’t really keep track of quotes, but anything from The Martian is lol-worthy (proof)
Shortest book read? Longest? Wytches by Scott Snyder (30 pages); All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (530 pages)
OTP of the year? Baz & Simon
Favorite non-romantic relationship of the year? The ladies from Lumberjanes! Okay, so it’s really part of my weekly comic haul but still…
Favorite book read in 2015 from an author you’ve read previously? Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman
Newest fictional crush? From this year? Cricket from Lola and the Boy Next Door was adorable. I don’t usually like contemporary YA, but Perkins writes some adorable stories.
Best 2015 debut? Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Best worldbuilding/Most vivid setting? A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab. She’s consistently hard to beat in this category.
Book that put a smile on your face/was the most fun to read? The Martian by Andy Weir. Hilarious.
Book that made you cry/nearly cry? Station Eleven. Just beautiful.
Hidden gem of the year? Meant to Be by Lauren Morill. I feel like this is an underrated contemporary YA that just won me over with its adorableness, realism, and charm.
Book that crushed your soul? Station Eleven steals this one, too. My heart was so heavy after reading this.
Most unique book read in 2015? The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness – a total inversion of the popular and ever-present dystopian tropes in YA.
Book that made you the most mad? Armada by Ernest Cline. See the review below:

Reviews & Events

Best bookish moment/event of 2015? Meeting Rainbow Rowell!
Favorite review that you wrote/filmed in 2015? Uggggh, this is so tough. I don’t know. All of them?
Most popular post/video this year? #PotterWeek: Ravenclaw

Post you wished got a little more love?Real Life Geeks Who Inspired Me
Best bookish discovery (store/sites/etc.)?I got an OwlCrate subscription? Does that count? It was pretty awesome.
Complete any reading challenges/goals?52 book reading challenge

Looking Ahead…

One book you didn’t get to this year, but will probably be first priority in 2016? I’ve been so excited to read Libba Bray’s The Diviners, but kept getting sidetracked. It also didn’t help that it was a really thick book. I’m working on it, but am making a point to crank it out in January.
Book you are most anticipating in 2016 (non-debut)? This Savage Song by V.E. Schwab
Series-ending/sequel you are most anticipating? The Winner’s Kiss (except the cover)
One thing you hope to accomplish in reading/blogging life in 2016? Take more bookish photos for Instagram. Goal: 1 per week.
A 2016 release you’ve already read and recommend to everyone? Surprisingly, I haven’t read any upcoming releases yet! I’m drowning in a pile of accumulated current TBRs…

How was your 2015? Did you reach your reading goals?