Since it’s nearly halfway through the year, one of my favorite bloggers (and best blog discovery of the year) Nomes of Inkcrush is hosting a Fave Reads of 2011 “share the awesome” book awards to celebrate the awesome books, characters, scenes, and book covers we’ve read so far. Anyone can participate, and there are no rules for the awards except that they need to be books you’ve read this year. Day one is all about your favorite reads, and since choosing “bests” is so difficult anyway and I’m very indecisive, my list includes some two and three-way ties as well as runner-ups and lots of repeats.
1. Favorite Book Read So Far (blew me away by the story, characters, writing, etc.):
The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan and The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
Runners Up: Unsticky by Sarra Manning, A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, and Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar
2. Best Ache-y, Heart-breaking, Tear-Jerker Read: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
3. Most Beautiful Story (all the plot points and character relationships came together beautifully): I’ll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan (review to come!)
4. Best Delicious, Rainy Day Comfort Read: The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder
5. The Beautiful Prose Award: I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
Runners-Up: Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar and Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell
6. Most Atmospheric and Vivid Setting (Unforgettable, palpable imagery evoked by the setting description): Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar
7. Most Original and Imaginative: The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan and Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
8. Best Under-appreciated, Hidden Gem Book: Unsticky by Sarra Manning
9. I-Had-No-Idea-I-Would-Love-This-So Award: The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley and Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
10. Most Haunting Story: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
Runner-Up: Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder
11. Best Outside My Comfort Zone (but ‘gosh, how I loved it’) Award: The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
12. Series that I’m Loving (I absolutely cannot wait for the next book because the series has never let me down): Lady Julia series by Deanna Raybourn and the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews.
13. Most Memorable Voice Award (I hear their voice in my head and/or spot on/I’ve felt exactly like this before): Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers, Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar.
Runner Up: Good Oil by Laura Buzo
14. Would Make the Best Movie (awesome premise, funny, quirky, and original story/characters): Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
15. Want to Re-read Already (because it was that good): The Demon’s Lexicon series
That’s 12 young adult books and 5 adult books (six contemporaries, three historicals, three verse novels, two paranormals, two urban fantasies, and one contemporary romance). And the books that appear on the list more than once: The Demon’s Lexicon (4), Raw Blue (3), Unsticky (2), The Winter Sea (2), A Monster Calls (2), and Nevermore (2).
What about you? Stay tuned for next week when I talk about my favorite characters, covers, and scenes. 
Holly! I love your break down at the end. It’s like super scientific.
One thing I have loved about this event hosted by nomes, is just discovering books I hadn’t head of before, like Unsticky by Sarra Manning or A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. I’m really curious about those now.
Thanks for sharing your choices. Great list of books!
Yay for Graffiti Moon!
And I really must read Raw Blue soon
Interesting list Holly, it’s such a mix!
Great list! I agree with Nevermore, Some Girls Are and The Winter Sea. Raw Blue, Unsticky and I am the Messenger are on my wishlist.
I love your list! You have plenty of my all time favourites on it like Raw Blue, Graffiti Moon, Chasing Brooklyn, Good Oil and Nevermore.
I’ll Be There is a book is at the top of my wishlist. So glad to hear it is a beautiful story.
Oh man – love this list. I either agree 100% with your choices or have the books you listed on deck to read soon. I cannot wait to dive into Warm Bodies and A Monster Calls!
oh i have wanted THE WINTER SEA ever since i followed along all your status updates on goodreads …
plus warm bodies is jumping out at me from my wishlist. i am determined to wait it out until the paperback release O.o
and ~ wow ~ all that Aussie YA goodness!
my library has UNSTICKY and i keep meaning to reserve it (as it always seems to be out when i am there) bewteen you and chachic and angie i know i will love it <3
(i also have chasing brooklyn in my TBR ~ i'll read it in the next few months, haha ~ have slowed down on going all crazy through the TBR and am trying to savour my books instead
xx
You must read Unsticky, I also got it from my library and it was this massive unwieldily hardback that I had to read squeezed up against people on the train to work but I didn’t care cos I was so engrossed in this book!
it’s sad, but there are quite a few on your list that i havent even heard of. not to fear. that will be rectified very soon
The Demon’s Lexicon is such a good book! It made my list as well.
A Monster Calls made my list as well, I was very surprised by that one!
I really want to read Raw Blue, Graffiti Moon, and Good Oil! All I’ve heard are such great things!
I’m going to go and check out Unsticky!
The Demon’s Lexicon is a great book, and Sarah Rees Brennan is uber-nice: she was the first author I interviewed ever (and I can vividly remember being so excited that I was jumping up and down. And possibly squealing.)
Also, liking the Lisa Schroeder mentions
I really want to read Raw Blue. It’s recieved so much praise and I think it would be such a great read!
Well I want to read all the books I haven’t read on this list. Especially the Demon’s Lexicon series, and GRAFFITI MOON.
This faves of 2011 looks like such fun. I should make a list
Thank you for the list…I’m on it!
I would add “If I Stay” and “Where She Went” by Gayle Forman. Love them both!
Thank you everyone! Your comments have made my day.
I’m always surprised at how long these lists take to make and write up the posts for, but I’m excited for Day Two and Three! Now I’m off to check out your lists…
Good to see I am the Messenger. Love that one! I have Raw blue on my list a few times too. And I’ll have to check into the Patrick Ness book. Just read The Knife of Never Letting Go and really loved it.
Love this list, I’m popping Graffiti Moon and Raw Blue on my TBR list for sure. Love The Demons Lexicon and just bought last in the series, can’t wait for it to arrive!
Totally going do this list, I’ve read so many great books this year!
Thanks, Holly! I just wanted to let you know that I was over at your blog today and wanted to comment but both Firefox and IE were not letting me.
Just wanted to know you could count me as one of your readers.
Aww ta very much! My faves are finally up if you want a look, did it take you ages to pick them as well?! So hard to choose for some of those categories.
You and Janicu both put Unsticky on your lists making me think I must get to this. Soon. (Which shouldn’t be hard considering I’ve had a copy since Angie’s review.) My post will be going up tomorrow (thanks to you! I wasn’t aware of this fave reads (so far) gig before seeing your lists.)
I’m kind of sad that I missed participating in this event that Nomes is hosting but I love seeing the lists in the blogs that I follow. I think I need to add The Winter Sea to my wishlist because of your endorsement.
I’ve been wanting to read A Monster Calls, but I haven’t heard much about it. It’s nice to see it mentioned on your list. I really liked The Demon’s Lexicon, too. I did not see that surprise at the end coming at all!