The most memorable books of 2009

I really can't believe it's almost 2010 already. 2009 just flew by so quickly! But hopefully 2010 will bring even more great books.

I've decided to compile a list of some of the best books I've read this past year. I'll pick one or two from each month that were my absolute favorites and post them, along with a link back to the review and a little comment about the book. Not all of them will have been released in 2009, but the majority of them will be. And definitely not all of the best releases this year are on here (for example, I still haven't read Catching Fire because I haven't read The Hunger Games!) But I thought this would be a great way to look back and remember all of the great books I've read and definitely want to read again. So, here we go! March is the first month I started blogging, so we'll start there.

March:
Leftovers by Laura Wiess
- The first Laura Wiess book I had read! It definitely got me hooked on her writing.

April:
Willow by Julia Hoban
- Willow became one of my favorite books, ever. It was just simply amazing. I also donated a copy to the local library in hopes of spreading it around a bit, and every single time I've checked upon the status of it, it's been taken out by someone. This made me so happy.

May:
The Rule of Won by Stephan Petrucha
- I'm not sure how many people actually read this book. It never seemed to get very big. But I loved the idea of it, and it was an interesting book that really made me think.

June:
How To Buy A Love Of Reading by Tanya Egan Gibson
- This book was just kind of... strange. Everyone either loved it, or hated it and didn't get past the first couple chapters or so. It definitely wasn't for everyone, but for some reason it's just stuck in my head since I've read it, in a good kind of way.

Identical by Ellen Hopkins
- Another great book I read in June. I love Ellen Hopkins, and this book was just phenomenal. I'm kind of at a loss for words about it.

July:
Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog
- This was a bit different from your typical fairy story, and I think that's what made me love it so much. The plot was so interesting and if I remember right, I finished the book in one sitting.

August:
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
- Along with Willow, this has also become one of my all time favorite books. It's too great for words, really. I can't wait for the second book to come out!

Candor by Pam Bachorz
- As you've probably noticed, I love books with unique plot lines and books that make you think a bit, or make you see things in a different light. This was one of those books that kind of made me stop and think about the world around me.

September:
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
- Another book that became one of my all time favorites. (That's three so far, jeez!) I loved Patch's character. I loved the whole idea of the book. The cover is absolutely beautiful. But I still haven't read the finished copy to see the changes in the ending.

October:
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
- Another thought-provoking book! I love the whole other kind of world that the book took place in. Definitely a lot of interesting concepts in here.

Rage by Julie Anne Peters
- Perhaps I'm a bit biased about this one because I'm a total sucker for anything Julie Anne Peters or GLBT. But I thought the cover was gorgeous, and the book was a much needed story about dating violence in homosexual relationships.

November:
Hold Still by Nina LaCour
- This book was almost kind of haunting, when I think about it. But I really did love it, and it's actually one of the things that got me wanting to learn more about photography. It seemed like such a personal book, and I think that's what made it wonderful.

December:
Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern
- I loved this book because I could see so much of myself in the main character. And even when I couldn't, there were so many funny things going on that I couldn't help but love the book. The cover is simple, but I find it effective and cute.