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

Frankie Landau-Banks wants what most sophomore girls desire: a good education, a hot boyfriend, and entrance into her school's most exclusive group. This year, she'll get all three. But at what price? Through the antics of the title character, E. Lockhart's The Disreputable History of Frankie-Landau Banks asks the eternal question: How far would you go to get what you want?

After an unremarkable freshman year at Alabaster Prep, Frankie's returning with a vengeance: she's sprung out from under her sister's shadow; developed a killer figure; and sharpened her natural wit. This year, she's determined to get noticed. Her plan succeeds far better than she ever expected it would - she lands a place with the in crowd, courtesy of rich, gorgeous Matthew Livingston. Frankie loves the camarederie between Matt and his buddies, loves being a part of his inner circle. As time goes on, however, she notices a disturbing trend - whenever Matt's friend Alpha beckons, her boyfriend goes running. Even when it means breaking dates with her. Worse, Matt's vague about his whereabouts, leaving her to wonder where he and his buddies are sneaking off to all the time. So, Frankie follows him one night. What she discovers gives her a shock and a thrill - he's part of a secret society called The Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds.

Frankie knows all about the Basset Hounds thanks to her father, Senior Banks. When he and his high school cronies get enough wine in them, they love to reminisce about the secret, decades-old club to which they once belonged. Frankie knows enough about the club to know it's a silly, boys-only society that exists mainly to let its privileged members "experience the thrill of rebellion, a glimmer of unconventiality, and plain old naughtiness without risk" (151). Still, she can't help herself. She wants in, if only so that she can have Matt's full attention. There's only one problem - whenever she drops hints about joining, her boyfriend denies the club's existence. Clearly, there's only one way for her to be a part of the exclusive group - beat them at their own game. Frankie sets her brilliant plan in motion - soon she has the Basset Hounds barking at her command. Finally, she's got a little of the power the boys wield so easily over her. Only, someone else is taking the credit for her genius, stealing the spotlight she deserves. Will her greed prove to be her undoing? And what happens when silly pranks carry serious consequences? Frankie is about to find out.

Although I finished this book last week, I'm still mulling over my opinion. On the one hand, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is an absorbing, fast-paced read that kept me turning pages. It stars a smart, independent young woman who goes after what she wants with a vengeance - endearing traits that mark her as a stand-out heroine. Plus, the book makes a powerful statements about individuality and the dangers of power and obsession. On the other hand, I didn't find the characters that likeable; in fact, some of them were downright annoying. I also got tired of the feminist rant, the teenage angst, and the melodrama. Lockhart also has a tendency to go off on odd tangents (like the whole "neglected positive" thing), which are not only distracting but also confusing. So, I don't know ... I'm really ho hum about this one. It's an engrossing read for sure, but did I like it? I'm not sure. Would I recommend it? Maybe, maybe not. I guess I feel about Frankie as I do about this entire book - interesting, but just not all that likeable.

Grade: C