The Smashing & Dashing 2025 Character Awards! // feat. movies and shows, too, because I can't help it

Hi, friends!

I've already listed out all the books I read in 2025 and all the movies I watched in 2025, but it isn't enough to just say them, I want to talk about the characters.

I know, I know, I should stop talking about 2025 and just move on with the new year. The thing is, though, that I experienced about 100 different stories last year, from words on a page to people on a screen! One doesn't just get over that.

With the recent announcement of the Oscar nominees for this year, I'm in the mood to give out some awards myself. Therefore, I'm going to fill out the Smashing & Dashing 2025 Character Awards! Credit to C. G. Drews of PaperFury for creating the tag ages ago, and to Katie Hanna and Sarah Seele for always reminding me about it. Their posts are awesome, you seriously need to check them out. I'm just a copycat.

But me being me (i.e. too obsessed with a visual format), I'm going to be including characters from movies and TV shows, so each question will get a book answer and a movie/TV show answer.

Additionally, I'm going to try to only use each story once as I have a ton to choose from. Wish me luck!

Just because I'm talking about these characters does not mean that I like the stories they are from, but they should get props all the same. Let's get into it!

1. Most Relatable Character

Book: Harriet Manners from Geek Girl. I'd related to her in the TV show, and this year I related to her just as much in the book. I want to read the rest of the series ASAP. She's awkward but adorable and I want to strive to have her compassion.

Movie/TV show: Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries. She's just wants to do her job and experiment with poisons and not be bothered by people. I'm not into poisons, but there were so many times that I felt what she was feeling, especially when Jinshi is trying to be sparkly and flirty and Maomao has her priorities in a different place. 

#notimpressed

2. Most Pure Animal Companion

Book: Paganini, who is a rabbit, from the Vanderbeekers books! Those kiddos also have a sweet, sweet dog, but I can't think of his name right now.

Movie/TV show: This has made me realize how few animals I see in movies and that makes me sad. The cow from The Rare Breed (1966) is pretty stinking cute. His name is Vindicator, which doesn't quite live up to how adorable he is, but that's fine. The poor guy has been dragged all over the place, from England to the Wild West!

3. Fiercest Fighter

Book: Agatha from The School for Good and Evil. She and her best friend Sophie are stuck in a magical school and Aggie will stop at nothing until they're out of there, and she has tons of obstacles to face, like Sophie herself.

Movie/TV show: Evelyn from Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022). If you've seen the film I don't think any explanation is needed. If you haven't, just know that Evelyn is facing both physical and emotional battles.

4. Am Surprised That I Loved You??

Book: Lord Peter Whimsey from Gaudy Night. I'd read Whose Body? a couple of years ago and did not like Peter. Here, I had several times where I was cheering for him. He'd mellowed and had a deeper side and we met his nephew which explained a lot.

Source

Movie/TV show: Mary Yellan from Jamaica Inn (1939). This is surprising because I'm not usually a fan of her Maureen O'Hara's acting, but I sympathized with her immediately (debut for the win!) because she's just trying to find a new home and instead immediately gets thrown into conspiracies.  

5. Best Sassmaster

Book: Hercule Poirot from The Early Cases of Hercule Poirot. I already talked about this, but he says such cutting things to Hastings and I love it. I should've written down more of what he said because at least once per story he had me giggling. 

Movie/TV show: Myeol-mang/Kim Sa-ram from Doom at Your Service (2021). ACK. I LOVE my sassy boy. I mean with iconic blue/green hair the sass has to live up to the look. He's the personification of doom itself, and has been nihilistic for a while until he found someone to bother. Then the sass comes out full force when he's in front of Dong-kyung. For example, he can hear peoples thoughts and the first time we see him, someone has bumped into him and thought, "wow, he's handsome" which Sa-ram immediately answers out-loud with "I know." 

And now my computer dashboard is covered in gifs of him that I don't know what to do with, so another one is going into this post. It's the only rational thing to do.

That sassy smirk!

6. Best Antihero

Book: André-Louis from Scaramouche. He does some heroic things, but the term might fit him because he doesn't believe what he's saying, he's just using a means to an end? I already compared him to Anne Elliot, so check out that post for more about him.

Movie/TV show: Charlie Babbitt from Rain Man (1988). He's a jerk, he's selfish, he's greedy, and to top it all off he's kidnapped his brother. Then he grows and goes through some character development and does unexpected things so that I was cheering for him.

7. The Best Friends Of All

Book: Betsy and Tacy. Tacy is bashful (sorry, I will never get over that being the one word used to describe her) but not around Betsy! They trust each other and will do anything for each other. Even skipping school, kind of.

Movie/TV show: My dudes Arjun, Kabir, and Imran from Zindagi na Milegi Dobara (2011)! They have their issues (especially two of them have beef with each other) but they work through it (with Kabir's help of being the peacemaker) and I love them. 

8. Best Villain To Hate

Book: The Snow Queen from Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy! She is horrible to the sweet Marvelous Boy and I just want to keep him safe.

Movie/TV show: Velma Von Tussle from Hairspray (2007). She's HORRIBLE. Yes, I guess the word I use to describe villains is horrible as I've used it for both these gals, but it's true!

9. Award for Best vs. Worst YA Parents

I don't really read enough YA to say, so we're just going with parents in general. And having four seems like a lot, so I'll have one from a movie/show and one from a book.

Best: (Book) Peter and Kira from Beartown. This book in and of itself can capture such a spectrum from best to worst for parenting, and in addition to being amazing parents, Peter and Kira are now one of my favorite couples of all time. They go through absolutely horrible things and have to figure out how to keep their family together and how to feel whole again.

Worst: (Movie/TV show) Do Min-Ik's mother from The Secret Life of My Secretary (2019). Her son isn't really her son, but he loves her and they act like they are related and all Min-Ik wants in life is to be loved by her. Early on there's this moment where the mother is telling him who he should date (for mergers in the company) and he asks, "If I do this, will you accept me as your own?" and she callously replies: "Her family will, at least." CRUEL.

10. Ship Of All Ships In 2025

Book: I'm really struggling with this one, now that I've already used Peter and Kira. But they don't even really qualify as a ship because they got together long before the book started. 

Aaaaaaaaaand, I've got nothing that I haven't already used, which is pretty sad. But, I do complain every time I read romances, so maybe it should be expected. I have to dip into my rereads from last year, so in that case it would be my All the Crooked Saints couples. Forever and ever, Beatriz and Pete. Forever and ever, Marisita and Daniel. *hugs them*

Movie/TV show: Let's see how many times I can get away with talking about k-dramas...I'm giving this award to my DARLING Woo Young-Woo and Lee Jun-ho from Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022). Just thinking about them I want to CRY because it's the cutest of all cute things and ACK. I can't. I watched most of this series in 2024, but in the three episodes that I watched in 2025 I cried several times just looking at Jun-ho's face. Real, body shaking, sobbing, tears. 

Find yourself a person who will listen to you talk as much as Jun-ho will listen to Young-Woo talk about whales. 

SOULMATES

11. Most Precious Must Be Protected

Book: Poppet and Widget from The Night Circus! I ADORE these twins and would do anything for them. They have premonitions that make them worried and it makes me say OH BABIES and just want to feed them hot chocolate and treats and keep them away from it all.

Movie/TV show: Pugsley Addams from Wednesday is a sweetie and I need him to be more careful because as it is, he doesn't think things through. He himself may not be the most precious from everything I watched, but he's definitely the one who most needs to be protected. HE JUST WANTS A FRIEND. And baby doesn't realize that a zombie is not an ideal friend. I want him and Agnes to become BFFs. Is that too much to ask? And she's got her head on her shoulders better than he does, so she can help protect him, too.

12. Honestly Surprised You’re Still Alive

Book: Sophie Foster from Legacy, book 8 of Keeper of the Lost Cities. The girl just goes through a lot, and it's amazing that she's made it this far, what with multiple near-death experiences in every book. Book 10 hasn't come out yet, so I can still be worried for her.

Movie/TV Show: Barry Allen from The Flash. I'm only 2 seasons in with 7 to go and I have no clue how Barry has lasted this long. I get it, he has supernatural recuperation skills, but dude. He basically breaks bones every day of his life and I just feel bad for the poor guy. And I'm fairly sure it's just going to get worse as the seasons go on.

13. Award For Making the Worst Decisions

Book: Poor Zoey from The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner. I relate to her, she's really trying to make her life better, but she does that in ways that hurt other people. She just needs a hug and a cupcake and someone to read her stories.

Movie/TV show: All of the characters in The Mummy (1999). I feel like banging my head against a sarcophagus watching them do things that they were told not to do. Like going back to the creepy haunted place. Or leaving each other alone when they are being hunted by supernatural beings. Come on, guys!

This was a valid reaction, though.

14. Most In Need Of A Nap

Book: Poly from Spindle. I know, she's been asleep for a couple of hundred years, but that wasn't good sleep. And besides, I get tired just reading about whatever Luck is doing without explanations, so I can only imagine being around him would want me to have a nap, too.

Movie/TV show: Brian from The Breakfast Club (1985). Poor baby is just trying to get good grades and escape from the pressure and is instead put into detention. And made to do all the work, which is totally unfair.

Honey, if you drink that Coke you won't be able to take a nap.

15. Want To Read/Watch More About You

Book: I want more of all of the stories in The Chronicles of Harris Burdick. More new stories, continuations to the old stories, all of it.

Movie/TV show: This is going to be a hot take, but I wanted more of Roger's mother, Mrs. Thornhill in North by Northwest (1959). I was vibing with that movie at the beginning when it was Roger trying to prove to his mother that he's not crazy and I wanted that to be the whole movie. I don't need Eve or anyone else, I wanted just the two Thornhills on a wild adventure. 

And with that, the awards have all been given out! Do you know any of these characters? How well do you think they deserve these awards? How would you describe best villains? Any one have any good k-drama suggestions (I just finished a new one and I need help)? Who are your favorite sassy characters?

Thank you for reading!

Chloe the MovieCritic

Books I Read in 2025 // in which I care about hockey and mention two different Harriets

 

I sure hope audiobooks count because that's what I mostly used this last year...

Happy New Year, friends!

I love this time of year for the feeling of fresh starts and reflection. Especially because reflection can involve list-making, which is one of my favorite things. These next two days on this blog will have several lists, and here's the first, all about what 2025 looked like through the lens of the books I read!

I'll write some thoughts on my top 10 books at the end, but I usually had something to say about each of these which you can check out on my Goodreads account HERE. If you want to compare this list to the previous years, here is a link to my label "What I read in".

Key: If it has an asterisk (*) then I listened to an audiobook version. If I cried during it, it has a tilda (~). If I talked about it on my blog, then the post is linked in the title.

New-to-me fiction (novels/short story collections, etc.):

And Then There Were None - by Agatha Christie
The Night Circus - by Erin Morgensen
The Red Tent - by Anita Diamant ~
The School for Good and Evil - by Soman Chainani *
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street - by Karina Yan Glaser *
Spindle - by W. R. Gingell
Timeline - by Michael Crichton * (I started reading this in a physical copy, but then switched to an audiobook)
Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy - by Karen Foxlee *
The Early Cases of Hercule Poirot - by Agatha Christie *
Keeper of the Lost Cities: Legacy - by Shannon Messenger
Last Bus to Wisdom - by Ivan Doig
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared - by Jonas Jonasson
Geek Girl - by Holly Smalle *
Gaudy Night - by Dorothy L. Sayers
The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden - by Karina Yan Glaser *
Betsy-Tacy - by Maud Hart Lovelace *
Beartown - by Fredrik Backman ~
Pippi Longstocking - by Astrid Lindren *
The Chronicles of Harris Burdick - by Chris Van Allsburg, Lemony Snicket, Tabitha King, Jon Scieszka, Sherman Alexie, Gregory Maguire, Cory Doctorow, Jules Feiffer, Linda Sue Park, Walter Dean Myers, Lois Lowry, Kate DiCamillo, M. T. Anderson, Louis Sachar, & Stephen King
Fangirl - by Rainbow Rowell
Scaramouche - by Rafael Sabatini
The Top-Secret Journal of Fiona Claire Jardin - by Robin Cruise
The Forgotten Magic of Zoey Turner - by Erin Stewart

Total: 23

New-to-me non-fiction (essays, memoirs, etc.):

Catholicity and the Emerging Personhood - by Daniel Horan
Boy: Tales of Childhood - by Roald Dahl * 
May, Lou, and Cass: Jane Austen's Nieces in Ireland - by Sophia Hillan

Some Memories of Drawings - by Georgia O'Keefe
Maus I: My Father Bleeds History - by Art Spiegelman

Total: 5

Novel rereads:

Flipped - by Wendelin Van Draanen *
Who Could That Be at This Hour? - by Lemony Snicket *
All the Crooked Saints - by Maggie Stiefvater ~
When Did You See Her Last? - by Lemony Snicket *
Anne of the Island - by L. M. Montgomery
Shouldn't You Be in School? - by Lemony Snicket *
Why Is This Night Different from All Other Nights? - by Lemony Snicket *
The Carnivorous Carnival - by Lemony Snicket *
The Slippery Slope - by Lemony Snicket *~
The Grim Grotto - by Lemony Snicket *
The Penultimate Peril - by Lemony Snicket *
The End - by Lemony Snicket *~

Total: 12

A lot of Lemony Snicket, I know...

Grand Total: 40

Of those:

• 19.5 were audiobooks, which is about 49%.
• 3 were translated from another language (all of them share that language, as it was Swedish. That's what going to Stockholm for a week will do to one). I hope for more hispanic lit this year as that was a favorite of mine in 2024.

Books I "DNF"-ed:

My Calamity Jane - by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows. Rule of Wolves - by Leigh Bardugo. A Red Herring Without Mustard - by Alan Bradley. Going Solo - by Roald Dahl *. Not If I Save You First - by Ally Carter *.

My 10 Favorite New-to-Me Books of 2025:

1. Beartown - by Fredrik Backman: There are not enough words to describe this book. It is hard and sharp around the edges as the characters put up their defenses and learn to not trust each other. It's about what happens when a sport such as hockey takes over everything and disintegrates community. Yet through the horrific events, people grow stronger and learn to stand up for what is right. It's painful, glorious, and amazing. It's finding joy in a game and learning what it means to be teammates.

2. Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy - by Karen Foxlee: A marvelous modern-day fairytale almost, where it's about finding magic and going on an adventure to protect people. It's lowkey what I was expecting yet did not get from The Little Prince - by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Absolutely adorable and I will protect the two main characters at all costs.

3. Geek Girl - by Holly Smalle: I ADORE the TV show (season 2 is possibly coming this year??) and this book was just as much fun. Harriet is one of the most relatable fictional characters of all time. She's trying to fix her life and the solution that pops up has the potential to make everything both better and infinitely worse. It's playful and heartfelt and full of struggles of talking and trying to be normal.

4. The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden - by Karina Yan Glaser: This is just so adorable and makes me wish my town had a community garden. I listened to this while doing a lot of work on my own garden which made me feel closer to the Vanderbeekers. Such a sweet sequel (I liked it better than the first even *gasp*) and the knit-bombing was my absolute favorite part.

5. And Then There Were None - by Agatha Christie: Iconic and shocking. Absolutely incredible how once the momentum gets going it never. ever. slows. down. Pacing perfection. It's such a famous mystery but also suspense and horror and tragedy which put together is a masterpiece from Agatha Christie. 

6. The Early Cases of Hercule Poirot - by Agatha Christie: If the previous book was a showcase of Ms. Christie's writing power, this one demonstrates her comedic timing. I'd been reading this for a couple of years so I lost track of how many times I giggled while listening to this. Hastings and Poirot are such an underrated duo and I loved the cleverness and burns that were present in every story. 

7. Boy: Tales of Childhood - by Roald Dahl: I think Roald Dahl's books are best enjoyed being read aloud and Dan Steven's narration on this one fits the bill. Dahl takes tales of mischief and tales of abuse and tales of excitement and wraps them up in each other in a delightful way.

8. The Red Tent - by Anita Diamant and Catholicity and the Emerging Personhood - by Daniel Horan: These are a tie because they were both read for the same theology class and therefore are intertwined for me. Horan's book is so gentle as it examines a new way to perceive others and I have incorporated "whole-making" into my life. Meanwhile, Diamant's story is a retelling of the story of Dinah and is heartbreaking and brutal. I think it is such an important perspective to have for those who know Jacob's story, even if it was a little much for me at times. It's about forgotten narratives and abuses being painted as liberation, all of which are a magnificent scream to not be abandoned.

9. The Chronicles of Harris Burdick - edited by Chris Van Allsburg +14 amazing authors tell the tales: Any book of short stories I pick up is going to be read over several years, and this last year had some of the best for last. I remember getting this book for Christmas AGES ago and thought it was a boring book about boats and didn't even consider opening it up. I was so wrong as it is about more than boats, but caterpillars and harps and chairs and houses and magic. Such a creative concept and so well executed by a stunning cast, if you will.

10. Gaudy Night - by Dorothy L. Sayers: It took me a while to get into this, but when I did, oh boy. It was so much fun to explore the foibles of humanity and try to figure out what would lead to a mind that would do such cruel things. Both Harriet (the second one of this post!) and Peter grew on me and I would not mind another story with them. I'm in luck because that exists.

Since I finished school this year, I feel like I was finally able to get back into reading, which makes me so happy after the last few years! 

Thank you all for reading! What are your top 10 books of 2025? Have you read any of these? Are there any other Swedish books I should read? Do you know any other fictional characters named Harriet besides Harriet Manners and Harriet Vane? 

Wishing you all a most wonderful year. See you soon for my top movies of 2025!

Chloe the MovieCritic

Books I Read in 2024 // Pirate Cats, Tigers, and Bear-Dogs, oh my!

Source

 Happy 2025, friends!

I always do my story wrap-ups for a year in January because up until about 11:30PM every Dec. 31st I'm delusional that I can get another story added to the list. That worked for movies this year, but while I got reallllllly close with one more book I didn't quite make it. But what I did do is read more books than the last few years! 

Here I give a list of everything I read but then longer thoughts on my favorites. If you want to know what I thought of the others, you can check out my Goodreads account HERE. I didn't do any full reviews on my blog this year, but I gave some more detailed thoughts over there if you want to check it out! And if you want to compare this list to the previous years, here are the links for 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016.

If I cried during it, it is underlined.  If it has an asterisk (*) then I listened to an audiobook version.

New-to-me novels:

Nineteen Steps - by Millie Bobby Brown & Kathleen McGurl
The Outsiders - by S. E. Hinton
The Queen of Attolia - by Megan Whalen Turner *
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry - by Fredrik Backman
The Labors of Hercules Beal - by Gary D. Schmidt *
The King of Attolia - by Megan Whalen Turner *
The Incorrigible Children of Asthon Place: The Long-Lost Home - by Maryrose Wood
Dear America: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: The Diary of Bess Brennan, The Perkins School for the Blind - by Barry Denenberg
Life of Pi - by Yann Martel
Mañanaland - by Pam Muñoz Ryan *
Conspiracy of Kings - by Megan Whalen Turner *
Keeper of the Lost Cities: Lodestar - by Shannon Messenger
I Capture the Castle - by Dodie Smith
Keeper of the Lost Cities: Nightfall - by Shannon Messenger
Leroy Nicker Saddles Up - by Kate DiCamillo
Thick as Thieves - by Megan Whalen Turner *
My Plain Jane - by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Asthon, and Jodi Meadows * (started on audio, finished with a physical copy)
Keeper of the Lost Cities: Flashback - by Shannon Messenger

Total: 18

Graphic novels:

Keeper of the Lost Cities The Graphic Novel Part 1: Volume 1 - by Celina Frenn, Shannon Messenger, and Gabriella Chianello 

Total: 1

Novel rereads:

All the Crooked Saints - by Maggie Steifvater
Anne of the Island - by L. M. Montgomery

Total: 2

Play rereads:

La casa de Bernarda Alba - by Federico García Lorca

Total: 1

Grand total: 22

My 10 Favorite New-To-Me Novels of 2024:

1. Life of Pi - by Yann Martel. This changed the way I see life. This books is stark and cold and lonely all while remembering the warmth of Pondicherry and struggling to survive. Pi has to change everything about himself to do that all while holding on to who he truly is. The sections in this book broke me in different ways, and are a masterclass in storytelling.

2. Mañanaland - by Pam Muñoz Ryan. The stakes change in this story is insane. It starts with wanting to be on a futbol team and ends with a journey and aiming towards the greater good. Stories that make the characters's goals go from internal to external are a true window into humanity. Plus there's a cute dog and cute cat and lullabies.

JUST NOW did I see the people in the trees. Talk about a gorgeous cover.

3. My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry - by Fredrik Backman. I've seen this in the library for YEARS and ACK it's just as gut punching as I hoped it would be. Death and grief and identity all from a child's perspective but the focus is trying to find truth in fairytales. So as a writer it's basically everything I love. I also have some theories for coded things so I want to reread it and see how that pans out from the beginning now that I'm thinking of it.

4. I Capture the Castle - by Dodie Smith. This book is one of those that is so unsatisfying at first but once I thought about it I realized WHOA, THAT'S GENIUS. One of the most human portrayals of love and life and really Casandra captures quite more than just the castle that she lives in. I'm still mad about it and still will sing its praises to the hills.

5. The Outsiders - by S. E. Hinton. I got this courtesy of Hamlette and it was the perfect accompaniment to my spring break. Aka, good way to release emotions through crying. It's rough and tumble yet the way the characters care about each other?? The lengths that Soda Pop and Darry will go for Ponyboy? The desperation that Jonnycakes feels?

This edition also feels so good. It's smooth and lovely.

6. The Labors of Hercules Beal - by Gary D. Schmidt. Herc must be protected at all costs. He's still struggling with trauma but he's trying to do well in school and to get birds to say his name and run on the sand with his dog. And here's all this pressure to be like a Greek hero yet Herc examines what that title "hero" really means. The way that Gary D. Schmidt connects his stories is JUST PLAIN CRUEL. Thanks to Samantha for bearing with me and all of my angry texts.

7. The Queen of Attolia - by Megan Whalen Turner. Samantha, Sarah Seele, and Megan the Nutmeg had to drag me through this one, but I actually really liked it? It takes sneaky to another level because instead of trying to hide all the actions the characters full on tell you? Which is so shocking that I don't have to read through the lines? I don't know, I just had fun with this one, okay?

8. Thick as Thieves - by Megan Whalen Turner. "Found friends story but make it road trip" is a gross oversimplification, but I think it works. This book also took one of my least favorite characters from a previous book and made him likable. 

9. Flashback - by Shannon Messenger. This one is on this list because I read certain chapters OVER and OVER again. It got a little obsessive. I think a goal for 2025 is for me to finish this series but I also don't want it to be over.

10. The Long-Lost Home - by Maryrose Wood. This one was fairly cute. Though I was only ever on planes while reading it, not hot air balloons, it was a good travel companion.

Thank you so much for reading about my reading journey this year! The books with the reward of "I actually changed my life and how I do things because of this" were Life of Pi and I Capture the Castle. Do you guys read any books that changed your lives this year? Have you read any of these? If so, how would you describe my top ten?

Happy New Year!

Chloe the MovieCritic

Books I read in 2023

College life, for real. (Source)

Hi, friends!

I haven't written a post since September (though college is ROUGH it paid off this semester!), but I'm still alive! Have no fear! Usually I jump on reflecting on the previous years books and movies immediately, but I was not in the U.S.. Hurray for studying abroad! I'm only slightly sunburned and here it is very cold so I have time to read and watch some new things.

As usual, you can check out my Goodreads account HERE. I didn't do any full review this year, but I gave some more detailed thoughts over there if you want to check it out! And if you want to compare this list to the previous years, here are the links for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016.

I have a few different sections here, but overall, if I cried during the book, I will underline it. 

New-to-me books:

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - by Staurt Turton
A Man Called Ove - by Fredrik Backman
The Little Prince - by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
All the Crooked Saints - by Maggie Stiefvater
Speak Easy, Speak Love - by McKelle George
The Silent Songbird - by Melanie Dickerson
My Lady Jane - by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
The Thief - by Megan Whalen Turner
The Lightning Thief - by Rick Riordan
Okay For Now - by Gary D. Schmidt
King of Scars - by Leigh Bardugo
These War-Torn Hands - by Emily Hayse
Fable - by Adrienne Young
Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln? - by Kate DiCamillo
Neverseen - by Shannon Messenger
The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek - by Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal

Total: 16

Graphic novels:

Persepolis - by Marijane Satum 

Total: 1

I don't usually count autobiographies/memoirs because that falls into non-fiction, but I think this is a very important story. I want to read the rest of the series and see the movie!

Plays:

Zoot Suit - by Luis Valdez

Total: 1

Technically there were a lot more but TECHNICALLY I didn't read every single word. There was much skimming involved. That's what happens when I take a Spanish theatre class. I'll write a post one day about all the stories we talked about (fingers crossed after I get my degree! Then it will be a ranking!) but know that for now I enjoyed them even if I wasn't able to be as thorough as I wanted to be.

Rereads:

Howl's Moving Castle - by Diana Wynne Jones
Anne of the Island - by L. M. Montgomery
The Penderwicks - by Jeanie Birdsall

Total: 3

Those weren't just any rereads, but I've read all of those books at least three times.

Grand total: 21

While that might not seem like a lot, it's four more than last year, so I'm celebrating!

My 10 Favorite New-To-Me Reads of 2023:

1. All the Crooked Saints - by Maggie Stiefvater: Every year I have an existential crisis over trying to describe my favorite books, but I continue to try. This book is about the manifestation of darkness and trying to help people face their biggest fears to get what they most want. This is everything I love and everything I aspire to be. Beatriz. Daniel. Joaquin. Pete. These characters are all so real to me.

2. A Man Called Ove - by Fredrik Backman: Speaking of real characters, I have never encountered such bitterness that Ove has. And yet this story is about a stubborn cat and even more stubborn family all to change the heart of the most stubborn man. 

3. The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - by Staurt Turton: The hype is real. This book is INSANE. It was an amazing way to start 2023. Mysteries are one of my favorite genres, but a common fault is that it is about solving the problem without deeper meaning. This has a theme that is one of the most incredible I've ever come across.

4. The Lightning Thief - by Rick Riordan: Again, I repeat, THE HYPE IS REAL. I'd never gotten into Percy Jackson before and I was missing out because Percy is HILARIOUS. And Grover?? My sweet Grover?? Why does no one talk about him? Annabeth is a boss and I promise to stop calling her Annabelle. I helped out with a musical version this year and I am excited to watch the show.

5. Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln? - by Kate Dicamillo: The annual appearance of the queen of MG NEVER disappoints. This made me cry like, well, a baby. Gorgeous.

6. Speak Easy, Speak Love - by McKelle George: I admit I shouldn't love this as much as I do. But sometimes Much Ado About Nothing is exactly what the doctor ordered.

7. King of Scars - by Leigh Bardugo: I'm conflicted about one of the story lines because things were feeling like they were moving very quickly, BUT. BUT. NIKOLAI. Can you say his name louder for those in the back?? I didn't ever finish Shadow and Bone, but this spin off is fantastic already.

8. Zoot Suit - by Luis Valdez: I have come to appreciate style as a way of expressing oneself and this repression of style and identity is appalling to me that it happened in real life.

9. Neverseen - by Shannon Messenger: These books are candy. Way too much fun and if I'm not careful I will binge the whole series.

10. Okay For Now - by Gary D. Schmidt: This book WOULD be higher if it wasn't for one thing. And I am still BITTER about it. I'm just saying that Doug deserves better. Thanks to my book club for suggesting this and enjoying it with me! I'm excited to see which Gary D. Schmidt we choose for this July...

There you have it, folks! I had a great reading year with only a handful of major dislikes, which were far outweighed by the wondrous stories I encountered. How many of these books have you guys read? Do your thoughts line up with mine? What are your thoughts on the books I didn't extrapolate on?

What has been happening since I've been gone? What have you all read and watched? Tell me your favorites and what I should check out in 2024! As I've said in the past, my computer is finicky when it comes to answering comments, but I love hearing all of your thoughts and will make it work to answer them eventually!

Thanks for reading, and here's to a 2024 to tell tales about!

Chloe the MovieCritic

Books I read in 2022

Happy 2023, friends!

What does one say for a new year without being cliche? Oh well, I'm going to encounter the cliche whether I want to or not, so I might as well get it over with: I can't believe I haven't written a blog post since last year...as we all say on January 1st.

On a more serious note, I just wish you all the best for this year! 

Today I will, as tradition commands, list all of the books I read in 2022. Which is not a lot. Last year I was a little woeful of how few there were...and now I have about half as many. Being a full time college student leaves little time for reading. As ashamed as I am to admit it, I watch more movies or TV shows to relax (which you will see in the post tomorrow!). I don't have any hopes for reading for 2023 but I'm excited to see what happens!

Anyway, time to talk about what you're all here for: 2022 books!

If you want another opinion, you can check out my Goodreads account HERE. I count books I read for classes there, but I don't have any nonfiction on this blog. As you may have noticed.

If you want to compare this list to the previous years, here are the links for 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016 (Wow, I've been at this for awhile).

It is a well known fact that I am an intensely emotional person. So, I'm starting a new peek into my mind. If I cried during the book, I will underline it. Now, it's rare that I actually cry during books, but I overcompensate in movies. You'll see that later, but as for now:

New-to-me books:

100 Days of Sunlight - by Abbie Emmons

Everything, Everything - by Nicola Yoon

Six of Crows - by Leigh Bardugo

Spinning Silver - by Naomi Navok

Divergent - by Veronica Roth

Crooked Kingdom - by Leigh Bardugo

The Wednesday Wars - by Gary D. Schmidt

A Thousand Perfect Notes - by C. G. Drews

Insurgent - by Veronica Roth

Beverly, Right Here - by Kate DiCamillo

Beowulf - translated by Seamus Heaney

Great or Nothing - by Joy McCullough, Caroline Tung Richmond, Tess Sharpe, & Jessica Spotswood

Rebel of the Sands - by Alwyn Hamilton

Stargirl - by Jerry Spinelli

Total: 14

Rereads:

Anne of the Island - by L. M. Montgomery

Holes - by Louis Sachar

A Christmas Carol - by Charles Dickens

Total: 3

Grand total: 17

I warned you that it was unimpressive, guys. I don't even have a good excuse (besides college) like last year, when I read the 1200+ pages of The Count of Monte Cristo. I mean, some of these YA are pretty thick? It is also quality over quantity, because I only seriously disliked one of those books!

That doesn't tell you a lot about my opinions on all of this, so the moment you have all been waiting for:

My 10 Favorite New-To-Me Reads of 2022:

I have to say that the top two gave me a run for my money. I have been back and forth on which deserves the top spot. I finally decided on #1 because of the message it carries.

I'm going to have a sentence or two about why I love each but I hope to review these all one day!

1. 100 Days of Sunlight - by Abbie Emmons: I had been wanting to read this since 2019 and it paid off big time. I reread small parts of it in the summer and loved it just as much. I got my sister to read it, and she got her friend to read it, so it's a chain of loving it.

2. Six of Crows - by Leigh Bardugo: THE EPICNESS. I cannot even tell you all. If you've read it, you know. I love all of the characters so much and couldn't read it fast enough. I was not a fan of the Shadow and Bone series so I thought this would be much the same, but it's infinitely more complex and incredible.

3. A Thousand Perfect Notes - by C. G. Drews: My sister realized that as a side effect of being a math major, my favorite books of the year all have numbers in them. How epic is that? This was my treat for completing spring semester and it broke me into a thousand pieces.

4. Beverly, Right Here - by Kate DiCamillo: The Queen herself. I'm so sad to be done with this series because speaks to friendship and pain and healing.

5. The Wednesday Wars - by Gary D. Schmidt: Shout out to Sam, The Nutmeg, and Sarah for making me read this. It brought my Shakespeare love to another level.

6. Great or Nothing - by Joy McCullough, Caroline Tung Richmond, Tess Sharpe, & Jessica Spotswood: Fall semester treat and so peaceful yet broken and painful and full of growth. Sister books, man.

7. Stargirl - by Jerry Spinelli: Cannot wait to now watch the movie because all of Grace VanderWaal's music speaks these themes.

8. Rebel of the Sands - by Alwyn Hamilton: The most brilliant world building ever. I am now so discouraged that my "people who live in the desert with powers" WIP will never be to this level.

9. Spinning Silver - by Naomi Navok: This goes so low on the list only because there were one or two things that bugged me, but other than that this was AMAZING. It got me through spring semester, guys.

10. Crooked Kingdom - by Leigh Bardugo: Such a tight sequel. I was actually STRESSED because of the danger these kids were putting themselves in.

I also read most of The Awakening of Miss Prim, but it's not technically enough for me to count.

Usually I talk about blogging plans in my movies post but because I have the extra space here, why wait? I imagine for the next few years that I still will not be up to my old routine because college is a lot of work. But, I still hope to make a bit of a return with some reviews or more frequent posts! I love all the comments on each post and one of my first items on my agenda for this year is to reply to all of you. In the meanwhile, tell me how you're doing! What was your favorite part of 2022, fictional or otherwise?

There you have it folks. 2022! Have you read any of these books? Were would they rank for you? Which of these would you like me to review in more depth?

What was your favorite book you read in 2022? Any plans for 2023 reading? Speaking of reading, thanks for reading this post! See you all tomorrow for movies! You may have known most of this from Goodreads, but you have no sneak peeks there...

Chloe the MovieCritic