My hands-down favorite thing about a new reading year is how hopeful I always feel at the beginning of it.  I psych myself up to *finally* reach that goal of reading 200 books.  My body hums with excitement as I add titles to my list of books I'm definitely going to get to before December 31st.  Then comes December and all I can do is laugh at how little the reality of what I accomplished during the year matches the fantasy of what I thought I could get done!  Ah, well.  It just means I still have lots of great books to look forward to in the next year.

This week's question for Top Ten Tuesday (which is hosted by the lovelies over at The Broke and the Bookish) asks which 2014 releases we really, really, really meant to get to and didn't.  I could list hundreds, but here are the first ten that came to mind:


1.  We Were Liars by E. Lockhart—This twisty mystery got all kinds of great buzz last year.  I'm definitely planning to read it soon!


2.  Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge—Rave reviews have put this Beauty and the Beast retelling high on my priority list for 2015.  I'm going to read it as part of the Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge.


3.  Panic by Lauren Oliver—This novel, about teens playing a high-stakes Fear Factor type of game, looks intriguing.


4.  Landline by Rainbow Rowell—I enjoyed both Fangirl and Attachments, so I'm very interested in Rowell's newest.


5.  After the End by Amy Plum—I'm not sure exactly what this one is—Post-apocalyptic?  Psychological thriller?  Action/adventure?—but it looks good.


6.  Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White—I've enjoyed the books I've read by Kiersten White.  As this one also promises to be a big contender for the 2014 LDS literary awards (Whitney Awards; AML Awards), I'm going to be reading it soon.


7.  Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis—Another fairy tale retelling that I'm planning to read for the Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge.


8.  Landry Park by Bethany Hagen—I bought a copy of this post-apocalyptic caste system romance thriller/romance (thromance?) as soon as it came out and, yeah, there it sits on my bookshelf just waiting to be noticed ...


9.  Compulsion by Martina Boone—I adore books set in mysterious Southern plantation homes, so this one looks like something I'd enjoy.


10.  Trust Me, I'm Lying by Mary Elizabeth Summer—This teenage con artist mystery/thriller just looks fun.

Have you read any of these?  What did you think?  And what great 2014 releases are you planning to get to in 2015?

*All book images from Barnes & Noble