Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

This Tuesday's theme is...

Top Ten Favorite Books You've Read During the Lifespan of Your Blog

I find this Top Ten to be a wee bit difficult, if only because I have to think really hard about what I've read since starting Beauty and the Bookshelf. So really, these are just the books that I can remember. But they're good, so you must check them out!

The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine

I'll probably mention this series in every post that I can because of how much I love these books. While I didn't read all the books during my blog's lifespan (although I am rereading parts of them right now), I have read the more recent ones. The books are what I would call an easy read, and they're full of everything: action, drama, blood, death, ghosts, fights, romance, vampires--everything. I never want this series to end, and I'll probably cry when it does.

The Selection by Kiera Cass

This book just makes me feel good. How many books can be classified as The Hunger Games meets The Bachelor? Not many, that's for sure. But this one just has something. Maybe it's because girls get an opportunity to be what most of wanted to be at some point in our lives: a princess. Maybe it's because there are two swoon-worthy men. (Team Maxon, cough cough.) Maybe it's because it draws you in and you want to know who will be selected. I don't know, but I do know this: I can't wait for The Elite.

Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

I like these two books because they are so different from everything else I've read. There's ghosts, a guy--with a great voice--who hunts them, and a girl ghost who complicates everything. These books had romance that wasn't heavy or a majorly major part of the story, gave me chills up my spine, and were written in a believable point-of-view. Cas--that's how a lot of teens talk. If you like ghosts that aren't too frightening and want a good mystery, check these out!

The Flappers by Jillian Larkin

I love flappers and the 1920's, so this series is just perfect. Reminiscent of the Luxe books--another great series--these books make my heart want to time travel to the era. The characters are brilliant, the clubs swingin', and the boys--sa-woon! These books aren't just about flappers; there's so, so much more and they must be read because I love them. 

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

When I first saw the cover for this book, I thought it was kind of cheesy and that the book would just be okay. I was wrong. So, so wrong. This book is amazing, like the chocolatiest of chocolate cakes amazing. Anna is well-written, the story is cute and real and fantastic, and Etienne St. Clair is one of my favorite boys in fiction ever. If you haven't read this, what are you doing with your life?

The Body Finder series by Kimberly Derting

I read the first book in this series right around the time I started this blog and was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it, and, today, love the whole series. The fact that Violet can sense the dead and who killed them is compelling all on its own. Add to that the point of view from whoever the creepy killer is, and it's like a crime show in book form. Then there's her best-friend-turned-boyfriend Jay, who I want as my boyfriend. And don't get me started on Rafe. While these books have death and murder, they're not too dark and totally readable.

Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala

Cupala writes books that are simply real. Her characters are never perfect and always improve throughout the book. She deals with serious issues, but it's never too serious that I have trouble reading it. In Don't Breathe A Word, the main character runs away from home and her abusive, controlling boyfriend to the streets of Seattle. There she meets Creed, who's protective and amazing and has his own problems. The ending is satisfactory and not too happily-ever-after, which is just what the characters need. I highly suggest you read this contemporary novel. 

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Long story short: I haven't finished this yet but I read ahead and have a general idea of what happens. This book is absolutely amazing; I had butterflies almost the whole time I read it. This book reminded me of the Perfect Chemistry books, which are some of my favorites. Echo and Noah are both characters that are broken and needed to be fixed, and I think they found that in each other. If you like romance, read this book. Just do it.

Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder

I never thought I'd like a book written verse, but I love Schroeder's. While they're shorter reads, they're simply stunning. Chasing Brooklyn is one of my favorites. It's about a girl whose boyfriend died and she thinks she sees his ghost--and so does his brother. Of course, there's much more than that, but I don't to spoil it for you--I want you to read it.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Okay, so I technically didn't read this during the lifespan of my blog. But I did reread them during that time, and that counts, right? My second time reading the series gave me a Hunger Games high; I guess reading them back to back to back will do that you. And this time, they were even better. These books are just so good, I can't help mentioning them in this post. And if you haven't read them--well, I shouldn't even have to ask that question, should I?

There you have it, my (sorta) Top Ten Favorites That I've Read During the Lifespan of My Blog. But now, enough about me--I want to hear from you. What's your top ten? Tell me in the comments!