YOU. GUYS. Technically, I have been blogging for an ENTIRE YEAR. That's madness. That's lunacy. That's... EXCITING! When I first started my blog, it wasn't meant to be a book blog. It wasn't meant to be a BLOG at all, but was actually a class assignment. Well, I dropped the class. I didn't drop the blog.
 |
| CHECK. |
I had NO CLUE what I was doing when I first decided this blog was going to be about books. I had no blogging friends. I didn't even really know there was a book blogosphere. But somehow I muddled along, and I slowly learned what I was doing. I still don't have all the answers--not even close-- but at least now I've got great blogger friends and readers to make the confusion fun. I got to talk with authors I never dreamed I'd meet. I got to go to BEA. I got to do a million things I never even dreamed possible.
Just for fun, here are my most popular posts as of September 1:
Most popular review on Goodreads:
Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston
Most popular blog reviews:
The Elite by Kiera Cass
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Matched by Ally Condie
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Pieterfreund
The Prince by Kiera Cass
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Most popular discussion posts:
Lending People Books (Most popular post EVER!)
Classic Books Everyone Should Read
YA Trend Watch
Negative Reviews: Why I Write Them and Why I Read Them
Baking the Books: Cinder Fortune Cookies
In Defense of Love Triangles
It just makes me want to cry, thinking about how every little number and every little stat represents a person who's interested in what I have to say and who's taking the time to read what I write.
Blogging has totally changed everything about my life. It's what I think about when I wake up in the morning and when I go to sleep at night. I have blogging dreams (usually panic-stricken ones where I send the wrong reviews to the wrong publishers or I lose all my Twitter followers). Every single day, as I go about my regular life, I have at least two moments where I gasp and cry aloud,
This month will have a whole bunch of giveaways to celebrate this auspicious occasion, the first of which is a followers only giveaway, to thank the people who make me be able to do what I love to do. The winner will get to choose any one of the books below that they wish, all of which are personal favorites of mine that I've reviewed:
45 Pounds by K.A. Barson
Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
The Archived by Victoria Schwab
The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider
The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Faking It by Cora Carmack
The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
Gorgeous by Paul Rudnick
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Pivot Point by Kasie West
Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
I am also DANGEROUSLY CLOSE to 100,000 pageviews (!!!! $^%$#@#). That boggles my brain. I LOVE YOU PEOPLE. That's right, bitches. One year. Nearly one hundred thousand page views.
This is a followers appreciation giveaway, so you must be following me to enter.
EDIT: This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL! :D
Check out my ARC giveaway, head over here!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Posts
Congrats! That's so exciting - although I only just discovered this blog, I've found your posts to be really insightful and entertaining, and hope you keep 'em coming :)
ReplyDelete(And I'd definitely pick THE DREAM THIEVES--or maybe THE ARCHIVED-- TDT because Maggie Stiefvater + am dying to read more of Blue and Gansey; Archived simply bc kickass cover + ghosts = epic in the making)
I would choose The Beginning of Everything. Congratulations on all the success! :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your blogoversary and all the success! And I loved your Cinder Fortune Cookies post! But I would want to win Gorgeous! I've heard great things about it.
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS on your blogoversary! I LOVE LOVE your Lending People Books post. I agree with every single commandment! I would get Crown of Midnight or All Our Yesterdays! :)Thanks for the epic giveaway
ReplyDeleteHappy blogoversary!!! Very very exciting : )
ReplyDeleteClearly I should read the thing before I comment ; ) I would choose All Our Yesterdays!
ReplyDeleteHappy blogversary!
ReplyDeleteProbably I'd choose Fangilr, since I have been dying to read since I've first read it was gonna be published S2
Thanks for the awesome giveaway and the chance to win ^^
YAY! Congratulations on the milestone! <3
ReplyDeleteI would most likely choose My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick. I've heard great things and I want to see why. Thank you bunches! :D
Woo! One year! Congrats :D
ReplyDelete(I'm dying to read Fangirl, btw)
Congrats on your blogoversary! Great to see you have accomplished so much in a year:)
ReplyDeleteFor the giveaway I would probably choose The Fault in our Stars:)
Eveline's Books
Congrats Gillian! You've made it this far :D My GIF folder has increased tenfold since I met you/discovered your blog! Oh, and for the giveaway, I'd choose The Distance Between Us by Kasie West!
ReplyDeleteHappy blogoversary! I'd probably go for The Archived.
ReplyDeleteHappy blogoversary! i would love either crown of midnight or seraphina ( but other looks great too so it's not a definitive choice)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you've only been blogging for a year!
ReplyDeleteI assumed you've been at this for so long because you write like a pro!
I recently read some of your entries and followed you on Twitter. =)
If I ever won, I'd definitely pick All Our Yesterdays or Fangirl!
Happy Blogoversary! I can't believe you've only been blogging for a year...I don't know why but I always assumed you've been doing this for much longer...haha
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway! I have no idea what I would choose if I won...I'll just have to make that decision if I actually do win ;)
Happy Blogoversary! A year seems like such a long time. Go you for being awesome ;)
ReplyDeleteIf I had to choose one I'd choose... Pivot Point. There's actually a couple that interest me but I've heard SO MANY great things about that book and so I feel like I need to get in on that action to find out what everyone's talking about!
This giveaway is amazing - congrats one your one year blogoversay!
ReplyDeleteMy lord there are so many books to choose from, but I'd have to go with either Pivot Point or All Our Yesterdays :)
YAY! Congrats on one year :D That is so awesome! Happy for you. <3 My blog is two years in just a short while; next month. <3 And ahh. So many awesome books to choose from :D I think I would love to win Alanna. Maybe :D I adore your blog and wish you'll keep blogging forever. <3 Thank you for perfect giveaway Gillian. <3
ReplyDeleteCongrats!! :D
ReplyDeleteHoly crap so many amazing books! Oh Jeez. I'd have to somehow choose between 45 Pounds, The dream Thieves and Fangirl. Aaah!
Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
I think I'd choose 'For Darkness Shows the Stars.' I think.
ReplyDeleteHappy blogoversary! That's quite a list of books, but I would pick Fangirl I think!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the blogoversary, Gillian! Also, you've nearly reached/surpassed blogging milestones I didn't approach until I was over two and a half years into blogging. (WHY IS EVERYONE BETTER AT BLOGGING THAN MEEEEEE? I need something sugary to counteract the sad.) (Don't mind the pity party. I do that pretty much every time someone has a blogoversary and laugh at myself for being stupid.)
ReplyDeleteI don't even know what I would want. I really, reaaaaallly want to try The Unbound because a lot of my friends like it (including you, clearly!), but my unread TBR pile is about to bury me and I really want a finished copy of something I already read and loved, like Rose Under Fire or 45 Pounds. I CAN'T DECIDE. AG.
Happy blogoversary! I have been a follower of yours for a few months now and am so excited that you have reached this milestone! I didn't know you started this blog because of a school assignment. I am continuing my own blog for the same reason :-D! I hope to be as engaging and funny as you!
ReplyDeleteIf I won I think I would choose Seraphina, by Rachel Hartman. It has been on my to be read list for a while. Thank's for the giveaway!
Congrats on a year, Gillian! Hope your next year is fantastic as well. :)
ReplyDeleteI think I'd choose Gorgeous. Thanks for the chance!
Ems
Happy first blogoversary! :D I would choose All Our Yesterdays. I've seen a lot of really great reviews and happy tweets from my fellow bloggers so I'd definitely want to get myself a copy :D
ReplyDeleteThat's one year of awesome! Congrats! Also how the hell am I supposed to pick a book! If I win I'll just close my eyes and point to one. Yep that's how I'll do it!
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary - I'd like to win Pivot Point!x
ReplyDeleteHAPPY BLOGOVERSARY GILLIAN! *bakes you a cake*
ReplyDeleteI am so happy I met you and followed your blog. <3 Thank you for the giveaway, chica! If I won I'd probably pick My Life Next Door.
Happy Blogoversary!!!! So exciting!!!!
ReplyDeleteHmm. That's such a hard choice! You've got some great ones there! I'd go with All Our Yesterdays!
Congratulations and Happy Blogoversary :) It's an amazing feeling, isn't it?! :D
ReplyDeleteOkay, hard task now... so many good choices!!! I think I would go for All of Our Yesterdays or The Archived!! Only to pick up two and not all of them eheh xD
Congrats again and best of lucks ^_^
XX Ner
I would probably pick Anna and the French Kiss. But really, I'm so happy and proud of you my friend. <33
ReplyDeleteHappy blogoversary! I would choose All Our Yesterdays!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all - congratulations! That's totally awesome <3
ReplyDeleteSecond, that a REALLY hard question! Like, at first I saw the first row of books and was like "Pfft, I'll chose All our Yesterdays!" but then I scrolled down... and there are more?! Lots more?!
The Distance Between Us, Fangirl, Unspoken... too many to chose from! LOL, I'll pass that bridge on the off chance I win!
Congrats again, and I hope you continue with the blog for many more years to come because it's one of my favorites to visit!
Congratulations! What an amazing achievement. Running and maintaining a blog is so hard, I love seeing passionate book bloggers!
ReplyDeleteI'd love Siege and Storm!
Wooohoo!! You go girl!!! :) Congrats!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on a year of blogging! I would pick The Dream Thieves!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for your first blog birthday!!! That's so exciting. :) Here's to many more ahead! And if I won the giveaway, I would pick Everneath. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy blogoversary! Oooooh probably My Life Next Door. Been side-eyeing it for quite a while now... Thank you much for the giveaway :)
ReplyDeletew00t! Congrats on a year, and massive awesomeness! :D
ReplyDeleteI would choose For Darkness Shows the Stars, and yes, partly because of your great review of it!
Happy blogversary!!!
ReplyDeleteI would probably choose All Our Yesterdays! It sounds so good!
i would choose Pivot Point!! Congrats!!! Hope you get your 100,000 page count soon!!!
ReplyDeleteoh my god, such amazing books! How is one ever supposed to choose?
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you've only been blogging for a year. I seriously had to read that first paragraph a few times just to convince myself that it was true. Have we really only known each for a year? Is that even possible?
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly, we met when you dropped a couple positive comments on my blog, and I, in turn, decided to peek at your blog. I'm so glad you did comment because, let's face it, it's good for my ego, but ALSO, I couldn't imagine doing this blogging thing without you to interact with. :) HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY, BLOG TWIN!
(Also, I'm ignoring your prompt question, because there is no way you can make me pick one right now. They're all far too pretty.)
Happy blogoversary! Your blog is one of my absolute FAVORITES, so here's to many, many more blogoversaries to come :D
ReplyDeleteAnd I'd have to pick The Dream Thieves--dying to read that book!!!
Congrats and Happy Blogoversary!! :) I'd choose Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell!
ReplyDeleteFangirl by Rainbow Rowell and thanks for the giveaway!! I'd choose Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell.
ReplyDeleteOh man I'd have to choose Unspoken. I just read it a couple weeks ago AND IT IS SO FREAKING GOOD. So I'm on a mission to get a copy of my own. And no library in my system (keeping in mind there's like FIFTY libraries in my system as I live in a big city) has bought the sequel!! Although I'm going to buy that anyway, so it won't kill me to do it now (although my bank account might have its last gasp at that)
ReplyDeleteHappy, happy, happy blogoversary!!! :) I would probably choose either All Our Yesterdays, My Life Next Door or Unravel Me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a giveaway! :)
Happy blogoversary! I'd choose Unravel me, Siege and Storm or My Life Next Door.
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogoversary!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway and making it international!!
I'm undecided between Rose Under Fire, The Archived or Leviathan!
I'd choose Fangirl or All Our Yesterdays! Thanks for the awesome giveaway and Happy Blogoversary!!
ReplyDeleteHappy belated blogoversary, Gillian!! I think I've been following you from almost the start, so it's been amazing to see how you've grown as a blogger. I love your reviews and also you are awesome and I will always remember the day we wandered around Times Square taking pictures of Disney stuffed animals and Twilight barbies :D Here's to another fab year of blogging!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! I love your GIF-filled reviews and can't wait to see what you fangirl (or snark) over this year. I would probably pick Fangirl or The Archived. Both look like books I will absolutely love.
ReplyDeleteHappy blogoversary Gillian! I'd bake you cupcakes or something but since you're a good baker and I'm not it would just be embarrassing. So I'll shower you in confetti instead! *showers you in confetti* Wishing you many more years of happy, successful blogging. <3 Oh, and I'd choose The Beginning of Everything, I think...or All Our Yesterdays. ;-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and happy blogoversary, Gillian! Isn't it such a wonderful feeling?! Your blog is one of the most entertaining & GIF-ified blogs I've ever had the pleasure to follow. Don't change a thing and keep up the amazing work!
ReplyDeleteCongrats and Happy Blogoversary!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogoversary! :) I think I'd choose The Beginning of Everything.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the blogoversary! That is awesome! I would choose The Dream Thieves.. But there are so many great books on this list it's hard to choose!
ReplyDeleteI would choose The Beginning of Everything. Just read a review on that one today.
ReplyDeleteReally super hard choice but I think I'd choose Crown of Midnight, The False Prince or Seraphina. Congratulations on the anniversary!
ReplyDeleteYay for you! I think I would chose Crown of Midnight... but that was a hard pick!
ReplyDeleteOH MY GOSH GILLIAN I LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE HILARIOUS AND STRAIGHT FORWARD AND A TEDDY BEAR I WANT TO READ A BOOK TO... And congrats on One Whole Year!
ReplyDeleteIf I could choose a book, I'd choose The Beginning of Everything. I love John Green, so I need a little something to keep me grounded til his next book >w<
Happy Blogoversary! I would choose either Faking It or Crown of Midnight :D
ReplyDeleteI SOMEHOW MISSED THIS WHILE I WAS CAMPING BUT OMG CONGRATS! I'm SO excited for you. One year is huge, especially for something that started as a class assignment. Your blog is one of my absolute favorites and here's to another year of posts okay! My book choice would probably be Rose Under Fire. I'm so desperate to read it!
ReplyDeleteAwesome giveaway ..thanks
ReplyDeleteAnd Happy Blogoversary :D
I would choose Anna and the frech kiss or If she stay
Happy Blogoversary! :) I would probably choose The Distance Between Us by Kasie West. Thanks for the amazing giveaway! :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats!!!! I would pick Critical Mass by Sara Paretsky.
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogoversary!
ReplyDeleteI think I would choose Fangirl!
Thank you for the chance to win!
Awwww congrats Gillian :D sorry I'm a bit late to the party haha.
ReplyDeleteI think I would choose Fangirl :) Awesome giveaway selection :)
Happy Blogoversary!! :D
ReplyDeleteI think I'd choose Fangirl or one of the Kasie West books (Love her!).
I'd go for Fangirl. Happy Blogversary-you are doing a great job! :)
ReplyDeleteI'd choose Crown of Midnight! I love Sarah J. Maas!
ReplyDeleteHappy blogversary! thanks so much for the lovely giveaway! And congrats on getting so many views! Not surprising because your blog is awesome! :D I would choose fangirl by rainbow rowell. So fricking fracking excited for this book!
ReplyDeleteThe beginnings of everything or Seraphina!
ReplyDeletePs.: Love the blog!!
I'll choose The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen of Seraphina!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the amazing giveaway! I'd probably choose Siege and Storm :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats for 1 year! I would love to win either Anna and the french kiss or Fangirl. I'm very curious about both of them.
ReplyDeleteHappy blogoversary! Glad to hear you've had an amazing first year--may you have many more blogoversaries to come :) Thank you for hosting such a generous giveaway, I'd chose Rowell's Fangirl :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogoversary! Wow this is a difficult choice but maybe The Beginning of Everything or Fangirl, I'm not sure yet :P Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your one year of blogging and I wish you many more! :) So many awesome books that I would like to read but mine choice is Crown of Midnight. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteFangirl by Rainbow Rowell :)
ReplyDeletebtw, congrats and more powers to your blog :D also, thanks for this great giveaway! :D
I probably would choose Pivot Point or Unspoken!
ReplyDeleteCongrats!
Happy Blogversary!
ReplyDeleteI would pick Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell.
Happy Blogoversary!! *throws confetti*
ReplyDeleteI'd choose The Archived by Victoria Schwab. Thank you for the giveaway AND for making it international!
Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI'd pick Crown of Midnight.
Arantza
Yay for 1 year! That's so awesome! I think I would choose Rose under Fire!
ReplyDeleteHappy blogoversary !
ReplyDeleteI'd choose If I stay by Gayle Forman :)
Congrats! I would choose The False Prince.
ReplyDeleteWoo 1 year! Happy blogoversery and thanks so much for the awesome giveaway!!! It's a hard decision but I think that I would choose Pivot Point! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogoversary! I'd probably choose Unravel Me :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogoversary (yes I'm late, I totally forgot to enter back when you posted it so doing it now :P)!!
ReplyDeleteI'd choose The Beginning of Everything, Fangirl, or Crown of Midnight!
So glad to have found your blog! I think based on your review I would choose All Our Yesterdays. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for your blogoversary!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to choose For Darkness Shows the Stars, please *_*
thanks
Congrats on your first year! My blog turned one back in June, and I was absolutely clueless when I started as well. I'm so glad you had so much success, and I'm really glad that I found your blog.
ReplyDeleteAs for the question: That's a tough one. It would either be Fangirl, The False Prince, Alanna, or Crown of Midnight. All 4 are on my TBR, so it would be one of those 4.
Happy blogoversary!
ReplyDeleteI think I'd pick For Darkness Shows the Stars. I'm not sure yet.
Too many good choices. About 1/4 of what you have is on my TBR list already (Though my TBR list is so long that I'll never get to everthing). I think I'd be likely to go with Seraphina (how can I still not have read this), Graceling, or The Dream Theives (Recently finished Raven Boys and Loved it)
ReplyDeleteI'd probably choose THE DREAM THIEVES. Not only does it have a gorgeous cover (the UK one is also beautiful) but I'm currently reading THE RAVEN BOYS and have already decided that I love it.
ReplyDeleteHappy Happy Blogoversary!! A year is a big deal =D I am approaching two in November and it kind of blows my mind that I have been doing this for almost 2 years and still don't know whats going on =P
ReplyDeleteIf I won I'd probably pick The Dream Thieves, I read a galley but would love a finished copy for the shelf.
I know I'm so late to the commenting party and the congratulations, but seriously, Gil, SO BIG OMG. Congrats! And I'm so happy you started as well :)
ReplyDeleteAs for the book, um, if I win, can I let you know then? IS THAT ACCEPTABLE? Because there are just a lot of very nice choices.
I'd either choose Unspoken or If I stay
ReplyDeleteHappy Blogoversary! I just found your blog today. So Yay me! Can I cheat and say "ALL OF THEM?" That is an amazing list and it would be like asking who is my favorite kid. If forced I guess I gotta go with Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi. I love it to death and have been wanting to own it since the beginning of the year. Thanks so much.
ReplyDelete