My Fictional Crushes

People will often ask me who I like; it's a long-standing tradition of junior high to know EVERYONE'S personal lives. Every time, I would give a different answer, because I have multiple crushes. ALOT of them, actually. And they are all fictional! Some of the YA guys I really wish were real, so that I could be a shrieking fangirl when I meet them. Unfortunately, that is not the case, but I will tell you about them anyways.

• Four/Tobias - Divergent by Veronica Roth. HOLY SMOKES. At the beginning, he's harsh, strong, and strict. But love softens him up, and he becomes just as vulnerable as Tris. Their relation is so subtly romantic, and he is hot. 
• Akiva - Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. He's described as the most gorgeous creature to walk the streets of Prague. And he's an angel. What more could you ask for? 
• Leo - The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan. Okay... I admit it. I like Leo. Probably more than any of the other Heroes of Olympus characters, besides for Percy. Why? Because Leo always lightens the mood, and he's so funny! 
• Howl - Howl's Moving Castle (both the book and the movie) by Dian Wynne Jones. I love his changing hair, his heart of a child, his dedication to Sophie, and his slimy tantrums. You also have to watch the movie to understand how cute he is physically. 
• Simon - Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare. He's sarcastic, witty, and nerdy in a cool way. Yes, I have a thing for nerdy guys... (shhhhh). I can just imagine Simon's crooked smile, his spiky brown hair, and the way that he confessed his love for Clary. No wonder Isabelle and Maia both like him, too!
• Ethan - Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. He has to be the most understandable male character I have ever read about in YA fiction. Especially since the Beautiful Creatures series (Caster Chronicles) is told in Ethan's first person. He's sweet, and kind, and extremely dedicated to his loves no matter what the troubles they cause him. The end of Beautiful Chaos depressed me so much...
• Alex - Delirium by Lauren Oliver. I fell in love with him the moment that Lena did. He went to such far lengths to protect Lena, and his past is particularly intriguing. I am dying to read Pandemonium, because I need to know what happens to Alex!

The 2012 Book Challenge!

Well I feel late! I can't believe it's already February of 2012 :D
In honor of the new-ish (not really) year, my friends and I have decided to commence a reading challenge! We've hand picked a list of 100 YA books and series that we must read by the end of the year. WWhy? To make us a better writer, create ideas for fanfiction, and because we're completely obsessed with YA novels in general. The novels are all new, 2011 and 2012 releases. As of today, February 9th, I am working on my twelfth book. Since there are eight of us who are doing the challenge so far, there's quite a range as to the number of books read. One of my friends is reading her fourth... another is on her thirtieth. WHOA! If you want to borrow our list for any purposes, go ahead! We're going to read other books in the year, of course, but these are books that we have to ;)

1. Divergent - Veronica Roth
2. Insurgent - Veronica Roth
3. Delirium - Lauren Oliver
4. Pandemonium - Lauren Oliver
5. City of Bones - Cassandra Clare
6. City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare
7. City of Glass - Cassandra Clare
8. City of Fallen Angels - Cassandra Clare
9. City of Lost Souls - Cassandra Clare
10. Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick
11. Crescendo - Becca Fitzpatrick
12. Silence - Becca Fitzpatrick
13. Finale - Becca Fitzpatrick
14. Die for Me - Amy Plum
15. Until I Die - Amy Plum
16. Under the Never Sky - Veronica Rossi
17. Legend - Marie Lu
18. Uglies - Scott Westerfeld
19. Pretties - Scott Westerfeld
20. Specials - Scott Westerfeld
21. Extras - Scott Westerfeld
22. Touch of Power - Maria V. Snyder
23. Matched - Ally Condie
24. Crossed - Ally Condie
25. Eden - Keary Taylor
26. Goddess Test - Aimee Carter
27. Goddess Interrupted - Aimee Carter
28. Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare
29. Clockwork Prince - Cassandra Clare
30. Clockwork Princess - Cassandra Clare
31. Iron King - Julie Kagawa
32. Iron Daughter - Julie Kagawa
33. Iron Queen - Julie Kagawa
34. Iron Knight - Julie Kagawa
35. Tangled Tides - Karen Amanda Hooper
36. Everneath - Brodi Ashton
37. Incarnate - Jodi Meadows
38. Twilight - Stephanie Meyer
39. New Moon - Stephanie Meyer
40. Eclipse - Stephanie Meyer
41. Breaking Dawn - Stephanie Meyer
42. Mark of Athena - Rick Riordan
43. Rae of Hope - W. J. May
44. Shiver - Maggie Stiefvater
45. Linger - Maggie Stiefvater
46. Forever - Maggie Stiefvater
47. Fractured Light - Rachel McClellan
48. Tempest - Julie Cross
49. Cinder - Marissa Meyer
50. Above - Leah Bobet
51. The Selection - Kiera Cass
52. Struck - Jennifer Bosworth
53. Unraveling - Elizabeth Norris
54. Across the Universe - Beth Revis
55. A Million Suns - Beth Revis
56. The Warrior Heir - Cinda Williams Chima
57. The Wizard Heir - Cinda Williams Chima
58. The Dragon Heir - Cinda Williams Chima
59. Forgive My Fins - Terra Lynn Childs
60. Fins Are Forever - Terra Lynn Childs
61. Just For Fins - Terra Lynn Childs
62. Hex Hall - Rachel Hawkins
63. Demonglass - Rachel Hawkins
64. Spell Bound - Rachel Hawkins
65. Cry Wolf - Patricia Briggs
66. Hunting Ground - Patricia Briggs
67. Fair Game - Patricia Briggs
68. Glitch - Heather Anastasiu
69. Hemlock - Kathleen Peacock
70. Slide - Jill Hathaway
71. Touched - Cyn Balog
72. Shattered Souls - Marie Lindsay
73. Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor
74. Days of Blood and Starlight - Laini Taylor
75. Wings - Aprilynne Pike
76. Spells - Aprilynne Pike
77. Illusions - Aprilynne Pike
78. Destined - Aprilynne Pike
79. Fated - Sarah Alderson
80. Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi
81. The Body Finder - Kimberly Derting
82. Desires of the Dead - Kimberly Derting
83. The Last Echo - Kimberly Derting
84. Fracture - Megan Miranda
85. Falling Under - Gwen Hayes
86. Dreaming Awake - Gwen Hayes
87. Unearthly - Cynthia Hand
88. Hallowed - Cynthia Hand
89. The Secret Hour - Scott Westerfeld
90. Touching Darkness - Scott Westerfeld
91. Blue Noon - Scott Westerfeld
92. Gone - Michael Grant
93. Hunger - Michael Grant
94. Lies - Michael Grant
95. Plague - Michael Grant
96. Fear - Michael Grant
97. Glow - Amy Kathleen Ryan
98. Spark - Amy Kathleen Ryan
99. Inside Out - Maria V. Snyder
100. Outside In - Maria V. Snyder