Since I have my first reviews under my belt I thought it was time to introduce myself and let you all know a little bit more about me and what I like to read.  First let me start by thanking Michelle for this amazing opportunity.  I know I would never be able to do a whole blog by myself, I commend those of you that do, and for her to offer up a spot for me to share myself and my thoughts with you is truly touching.  I have been friends with Michelle for a few years now and I completely look forward to doing this with her.  Now that that is out of the way, on to the good stuff.  On to the books.

I’m going to say it, I’m addicted to reading!  I know, I know, no surprise there.  If any of you look at my Goodreads to-read list it is clear, very very clear.  But I’m still throwing it out there because the truth is I’m not ashamed of it.  I love the fact that I can spend a whole weekend in my house reading 3 or 4 books and doing nothing else.  Do I get made fun of and berated for it?  Sure.  But the honest truth, I don’t care.  I like picking up a book and losing myself in the world of the characters, getting lost in the author’s words or just plain falling in love with the romance of it all.  I am a far cry from the girl in high school, college even, that was BBF’s with Cliff’s Notes.  If my teachers could see me now.

With that said I thought I would give you a glimpse at what I like to read by telling you the top 5 books I can’t wait for in 2012 and why I can’t wait to read them:

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
(February 28, 2012)

To say I fell in love with Lena and Alex’s story in Delirium would be a huge understatement.  That book was pure magic in my eyes.  It was my first foray into a dystopian novel and it will always hold a special part in my heart.  Since finishing Delirium for the first time in May and again in December I have been waiting to find out what happens to my dear dear couple.  How will Lena cope? What has happened on the other side of the fence? Will happiness and love ever be accepted and not feared? So many questions and I look forward to getting the answers.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
(May 14, 2012)

I had heard amazing things about Divergent.  Everyone that read it couldn’t gush enough.  They told me about the chemistry between Four and Tris.  About the world they were living in and the love story.  They told me I would not want to put it down once I started.  And they were all 100% correct.  I picked up Divergent and didn’t close it until I was finished.  And when I was finished I wanted more.  I wanted to know what things would be like for Four and Tris now that everything had changed and the saw the world for what it is.  This is a highly anticipated follow-up for sure.

Letting Go by Tabitha Suzuma
(August 2012)

When I first heard about Forbidden I was unsure.  It seemed a little too out there for me to read. I debated with myself if I should go there or not and eventually I caved and I have never been so happy that I did.  Suzuma wrote such a poignant story of love and loss and pain that I couldn’t put it down.  She has such a beautiful way of writing that you just forget what you are reading and just enjoy.  To me it doesn’t matter what the book is about this time.  I just need to read more of Suzuma’s incredible talent.

The Kill Order by James Dashner
(August 14, 2012)

The Maze Runner series was simply amazing.  The world that Dashner created had me on the end of my seat in all three books.  It was believable in an unbelievable sort of way and made me want to know how it all started.  The announcement that we would all be able to find out made me ecstatic.  Instead of building off what was a great ending he is going to build backwards to an even better beginning.  The Kill Order is no doubt going to be one of those end of your seats, heart pounding reads like Dashner loves to do.

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
(January 3, 2012)

Although this book is currently out I have yet to read it but plan to soon.  I first feel in love with Ockler during Fixing Delilah and that love only grew with Twenty Boy Summer.  She has a way about her that makes you love the characters and the story line being told.  She can break your heart and put it together in a simple sentence and I commend that.  To me, that is what makes a great author and a book people will be talking about for years.  I have no doubt Bittersweet will be more of the same.

It was hard to pick out just five.  Easily This Is So Not Happening by Kiernan Scott or Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg or even Revived by Cat Patrick could have made the list, all three authors hitting a note with me last year.  But when I really thought about it these are the ones.  These are the five that I can’t wait for more then anything.  The stories I read by these five authors meant something to me leaving me needing more.

What are your five?