2018 Goals: Read a Book By At Least 10 of These Authors

This list will focus on my Authors to Read List (atr) that I have never read a book by, but I really want to! Feel free to recommend which authors from this list I should focus on!

Again, I'm taking it easy. You will find a bazillion authors on this list (which I actually plan to re-visit every year from this point on until I have cleared all of these authors!), but I ain't gonna try to read a book by all of them this year. I'm not cray cray. But 10 authors seem doable, especially as some of them can double up with other goals I've put to myself... 

Come back to this page throughout the year to see how I'm doing!

Kelly Armstrong - This author has been on my list of "should try out" for years. I hope this will be the year I will try some of her works.
Books owned: The Gathering

Elizabeth George Speare - Technically, I'm only (currently) interested in one book this author has written, but it's been on my tbr for so long I really want to get to it, and I finally own a copy of it! 

Books owned: The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Kirsten Miller - I've had one of Miller's books on my physical shelves for over 5 years and have recently acquired another one of hers (albeit one co-written) so I just feel like this should probably be the year to knock her out of my atr :)

Books Owned: The Eternal Ones, Otherworld

Melina Marchetta - This author has been high on my atr for SO long. Her books are widely loved, and they sound unique and interesting. I hope this will be the year I will actually read them. lol

Books owned: On the Jellicoe Road, Finnikin of the Rock

Sarah Rees Brennan - I have wanted to read her The Lynburn Legacy for ages, and I recently got all 3 books on Kindle for, like, $3.5 total. I know, crazy! (bts, if you want to find awesome kindle deals, don't forget to check our list! It updates regularly :P)

Books owned: Unspoken, Untold, Unmake

Kendare Blake - She's just kind of been on my list for years... I'm not one for horror or things like that but I have heard so many amazing things about her books so I really want to see if this could be something I'll enjoy.

Books Owned: Anna Dressed in Blood

Veronica Rossi - Yes, yes, I haven't read a Veronica Rossi novel. I KNOW! Well, I'm gonna change that!..... Maybe.

Books Owned: Under the Never Sky

Patrick Rothfuss - I have wanted to read The Name of the Wind for so long, but at the same time it's so intimidating and the fact it takes him years to write his novels is also frightening to me. Still, I hope I can finally get into this series this year!

Booked Owned: The Name of the Wind, The Wise Man's Fear

Carolyn MacCullough - I have been interested in reading her Once a Witch series for ages and I finally own the first novel and I just want to finally read it!

Books Owned: Once a Witch

Tahereh Mafi - Welp. What can I say? I have not read a Tahereh Mafi book yet. It's true. I honestly didn't really mean to, because I don't like love triangle and the likes but... all the raving really got to me. So, I pick up Shatter Me. And here's to hoping I love it 'cause I really want an excuse to buy those gorgeous covers in physical copies!

Books Owned: Shatter Me

Veronica Roth - Is it strange that I want to read just the first Divergent novel? Like, I know how that series ends and I'm not here for it, but I kind of do want to experience the first novel and I've heard you can kind of read it alone. What do you guys think? Will it work?

Books Owned: Divergent, Carve the Mark

Marie Lu - Yes, another of those super duper popular authors I have never read! I need to get my shit together because this doesn't fly!

Books Owned: Legend, Champion, The Young Elites, The Rose Society, Warcross

Sarah J. Maas - So I'll be honest... I don't really want to read a Maas book. I have tried the prequel to Throne of Glass and didn't really like it. That being said, I want to give one of her proper novels a shot, just so I can see once and for all if it was that specific book, or it's just generally her novels. That way, I can stop being all turned around because of all the hype lol

Books Owned: The Assassin's Blade, Throne of Glass

Ann Brashares - I have wanted to read Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants for so long, and this is the year! 

Books Owned: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, My Name is Memory

Lauren Oliver - This one has been on my list for years. I feel like I should finally give her a chance, you know?

Book Owned: Delirium, Pandemonium, Before I Fall, Replica

Joe Hill - So, this one is an author I first noticed because Daniel Radcliff was in a movie adaptation of Horns. I love Dan, I want to watch the movie, and I can't until I read the book. Therefore, I must do so. But this author has crazy numbers on GR and that makes me excited... and fearful.

Books Owned: Horns, NOS4A2

Robin Benway - Heard great things about this author, and I'm interested in finally reading one of her works!

Book Owned: Emmy & Oliver, Far From the Tree

Kiera Cass - Okay, so I'm never going to read The Selection series. I'm just not about that life. And by "that life" I mean love triangles that drag. Anyways, that being said, since so many people rave about her series, I do want to read another novel by hers some time.

Books Owned: The Siren

Dan Wells - It's been six years since I bought Partials. SIX YEARS! And by all accounts, those are six missed years because Wells is supposed to be awesome!

Books Owned: Partials, I Am Not A Serial Killer

Anna Banks - I have wanted to read Of Poseidon for a really long time, but I've actually recently gotten hold of Nemesis by Banks, and I kind of want to try her own!

Books Owned: Nemesis

Neal Shusterman - Another author that has been on my list for ages. And I now own one of his books physically! It's time to kick it off my shelf!

Books Owned: Everlost, Scythe

Darren Shan - This author has been on my atr list since I joined GR, y'all! I have wanted to read his Cirque De Freak series for years and I have finally gotten hold of the first one!!

Book Owned: Cirque Du Freak

Jenny Han - I'll be honest here... I'm kind of scared to read this author's works. I am NEVER going to read the Summer series. Three books of a love triangle? Sign me the heck out. But... people rave about her so much. And the cover for To all The Boys I've Loved Before is really pretty. And so is Burn for Burn. So... I own her books. Imma gonna read them.

Books Owned: To All The Boys I've Loved Before, Burn for Burn, Fire with Fire, Ashes to Ashes

Brian Jacques - I grew up on Redwall the animated series. Finding out this had a book series it was based on blew my mind. I've got to get in on this!

Books Owned: Redwall, Mossflower, Mattimeo

Jessica Day George - I just really like the sound of her novels! 

Book Owned: Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow, Silver in the Blood

Kiersten White - another one that has been on my list for soooo loooong.... *sigh*

Books Owned: And I Darken

Robin Hobb - So I actually started one of her books and really really enjoyed it but I was in a really messed up place at the time and I dropped it half way through for no reason. I'm going to read her books this year, because they're good.

Books Owned: Assassin's Apprentice, Fool's Assassin, Fool's Errand

Alexandra Bracken - Heard just a ton of amazing things about this one.

Books Owned: Passenger

Sherry Thomas - I have owned the Elemental Trilogy for a long while now, and actually my mom loves these books so that tells me I must read them already.

Books Owned: The Burning Sky, The Perilous Sea, The Immortal Heights, A Study in Scarlet Woman

Morgan Rhodes - I just heard this is an amazing fantasy writer, and I need to get a start on it!

Books Owned: Falling Kingdoms, A Book of Spirits and Thieves

Rae Carson - Another author I've just heard wonderful things about and I want to start on it!

Books Owned: The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Walk on Earth a Stranger

Andy Weir - I want to watch the movie, okay?!

Books Owned: The Martian, Artemis

Catherynne M. Valente - I HAVE WANTED TO READ THESE BOOKS FOR SO LONG, OKAY?!

Books Owned: Six-Gun Snow White, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

Ellen Hopkins - *sigh* how many times can I say "another one that has been on my list for ages and I'm super excited for" before one of you comes out of the screen and strangles me?

Books Owned: Tricks

2018 Goals: Clear 10 Physical Books

Okay, so this one is really for aesthetic purposes. 

I have an entire bookshelf for books I haven't read yet. I have about... oh, I don't know... 100 books in it. Not including sequels that are not the next in line. Yep. It's bad. And it looks bad, too, lol

Now, again. Last year was a terrible reading year. Bad enough that I don't plan to over-do myself with big, giant goals. So I'm not going to say "I'm going to clear my shelves" or anything meaningful like that. I'm going to aim at 10. Ten physical books that I own as of Jan 1 2018, off my shelves.

That sounds okay, right? 

You can come back to this page throughout the year to see my progress!

Potential Books to Read

1. The Upside of Unrequited - This one is probably a sure thing since it knocks one off my 10 standalone books goal as well, and I have loved Simon Vs. and I also own this on kindle which would make reading it easier for me. Is this cheating? You decide.

2. Illumiane - I really, really want to read this series. I want to know what the whole "am I not merciful" line is about. And just for comparison's sake, I also own this on kindle, but this is not helpful 'cause this one is really difficult to read on kindle due to the format! Which is why I got the hardcover. That, and because it's fucking gorgeous.

3. Heartless - this is another one I am hoping to get to this year because it knocks one of my standalone challenges as well. I love Meyer's Lunar Chronicles so I have high hopes for this regardless!

4. Thick as Thieves - saying the Queen's Theif series is one of my favorites is an understatement. I did a re-read of the first three books last year, and I keep having to stop myself from re-read the third one again 'cause it's too soon goddamnit! So, on the one hand, I am super excited about this fifth installment. On the other... well, it takes the author six to seven years to write a novel. So once I finish this one, the wait is going to be long and torturous.

5. A Darker Shade of Magic - I WANT TO READ THIS SERIES, OKAY? AND I OWN ALL. THE. BOOKS. SO WHY DIDN'T I DO IT YETTTT

6. Winter - Confession time... I got close to page 200 before closing the book. I just got SO ANXIOUS, OKAY?? It's not rational because this is the final book! Everything will get resolved! But bad things were happening and my babies were being hurt and ahhhhh I had to stop. But I will finish it this year, because I want to and because it takes a book off my finishing 10 series goal... 

7. Turtles All the Way Down - John Green. Need I say more?

8. There's Someone Inside Your House - Stephanie Perkins & it fits the standalone goal. What else do I need in life?

9. Daughter of the Pirate King - they hype is real and I want to jump into it!

10. Stalking Jack the Ripper - heard a ton of amazing things about this so I want to join the fun! haha

11. To All the Boys I've Loved Before - Heard a lot of amazing things about this series.

12. Kiss of Deception - I think I'm really going to love this series *fingers crossed*

13. Wild Beauty - sounds really cool & knocks off my standalone goal!

14. Throne of Glass - I'll be honest... I DON'T HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR THIS ONE. I couldn't get into the prequel at all. Hopefully, this will knock my socks off and surprise me in the best way.

15. The Eternal Ones - 5 years on my shelves will come to an end in 2018!.... Maybe.

If you have books you think I HAVE to read from the photos above, don't hesitate to tell me!

2018 Goals: Finish 10 Series!

Okay, now we're talking big goals here. 

This one is going to be extremely tough for me, based on last year's performance. You see, last year, I read mostly series that are considered a series of standalones. Which means that every time I opened a book, I was committed to that single story itself and not really the series because they don't usually connect in a bigger arc.

This year, I plan to do some serious series reading (see what I did there? lol). Still, I'm going to keep it at ten because I think I can do ten (hopefully). 

And I am going to consider finished series of standalones in this one, just to help things along.

You can come back to this page throughout the year to see my progress!

Potential Series to Finish 

1. The Lunar Chronicles - Definitely a top priority for me as I only need to read Winter. I even read the first 100 pages before, I just got so anxious I stopped lol (I need my babies to be alright...)

2. The Ascendence Trilogy - I need to read the second & third book, but I own them all and these are a top priority as well, since I really want to knock it off my shelves.

3. Daughter of Smoke and Bone - I plan to re-read the first book and then binge two, three & three and a half now that I own the whole series.

4. The Grish Trilogy - same with DoSaB I'm going to re-read the first and then being the whole series AND start Six of Crows.

5. The Mistborn Trilogy - I'm counting only the first trilogy in the series since the second follows completely different characters. I was so in love with the first book, and then I accidentally read a spoiler for the third one and entered "protection mode". Anyways... I'm going to do this!

6. Starbound Trilogy - I thought the first book was just really beautiful, and I am set to have book two in the coming month and I bought the third one on my trip to London, so my plan is to re-read the first one and then dive into the remaining two to knock this beautiful series of standalones (with a connecting arc) into the read pile!

8. Morganville Vampires - so... I'm stuck on book 13 out of 15. Like, I've got to finish it now. But I have to admit that the series has really gone downhill once the original plotline was resolved. It just doesn't compare to what it was. I hope Caine doesn't make this mistake with her other series and just finishes them where they should be finished instead of dragging them on like this.

9. The Heroes of Olympus - I nearly forgot about this one! My God... I really enjoy these books, but nothing about them makes me need to read the next one immediately after finishing one, so I end up just... letting them hang. I only need to read the two final books, so I'm going to work on that this year!

10. Bridgertons - I need to read just the final novel to finish this one, and I own it! I just.. I read some things about it that made me not read it, but it all ends this year!

11. Lux- the first one of this pile that I'm putting more on "maybe" than anything else. I really enjoyed the first one, but then I never really felt the need to read the second and even stopped reading aforementioned second close to the end. But I'm going to give this one final shot before deciding anything. Maybe I'll re-read the first one again... we'll see.

12. Mythos Academy - this one goes into the maybe pile. I liked the first book (wasn't in love with it though), and I own almost all the other books in the series, so I think I'll try re-reading the first and see where it goes from there.

13. Song of the Lioness - another one for the "maybe" pile. If I'll find the final novel for cheap, then I'll read it. If not, then not. I've never been a big fun of this series, 's all...

Potential Series to Start & Finish (Own all)

1. White Rabbit Chronicles - I own the entire series and I love Showalter's adult series, so this one seems like a no-brainer (I think this one is considered over, but I'm not actually sure).

2. Six of Crows - I really want to read this series, but since I have started Shadow and Bone before I kind of can't do that until I finish that one (call it OCD!)

3. Blue is For Nightmares - I somehow found myself owning all the books as they came discounted on Kindle, so I figure what the heck, let's 

4. A Darker Shade of Magic - I have wanted to read this one for a long time, and I now own all the books in the series and thefore... I shall! 

5. Kiss of Deception - I am waiting for the second book to arrive on my doorstep, but once it does I will have the entire series in my hands and that means... time to read the eff out of them! lol

2018 Goal: Read 10 Standalones

Okay, so I want to introduce the first goal of 2018 for me. I'm going real small this year, as all I really want is to have a better reading year without too much pressure to... how to say... preform.

So the first thing I want to challenge myself is to read 10 standalones (you can already see the first one on the board, Foolish Hearts, which also happens to be my first 5 stars of 2018!).

Now, I don't count series of standalones for this one because those are kind of my comfort zone - a series of (usually) romantic standalones with intertwining characters. The emphasis is on the intertwining. That kind of negates the standalone part of things.

And that would be a challenge I finish in, like, two months lol

You can come back to this page throughout the year to see my progress!

Potential reads (from my physical shelves)

The Upside of Unrequited, Coraline, Wild Beauty, There's Someone Inside Your House, The Fill in Boyfriend, Iron Cast, Turtles All the Way Down, Release, Red Hill, The Handmaid's Tale, A Skinful of Shadows, Heartless, Landlines, Cloud Atlas

I have a ton more standalones on my kindle, but I really want to focus on my physical shelves for this post. Mostly so you guys could shame me for it if I end up not reading them lol