Authors' Favorite Books of the Year: Part 1

In celebration of my "End of the Year Madness" event, I asked two authors to share what their favorite books written in 2011 are. 

FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE YEAR: AUTHOR PICKS

Gemma Halliday, author of Deadly Cool:

One of my favorite young adult books that I’ve read this year has to be CODENAME: DANCER by Amanda Brice. First off, it’s set in the world of ballet dancers, which, to someone who took dance classes all through her tween years, is way fun. There’s just something so glamorous about ballet dancers to me. I mean, what’s better than sparkly tutu’s, right? But then Brice adds in the twists of a reality TV dance show, a super hot-guy dancer partner, and a thrilling mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. I read this whole book in one sitting and am eagerly awaiting the sequel, POINTE OF NO RETURN! P.S. I’m not the only one who enjoyed this book, either. Romantic Times magazine named it an Indie Hot Pick in the December 2011 issue, and it is nominated for a Cybil award for young adult literature!

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Bethany Wiggins, author of Shifting:

For Ashley's amazing "End of the Year Madness," (THANKS FOR INCLUDING ME ASHLEY!) I was invited to gush about a 2011 book I loved. So, I tried to pick just one book from the many I read this year. But I can't. CAN'T I tell you!!! Why? There are two books that are so amazing, so gripping, so envy-inducing, I still think about them, months after I read them. They are the kind of books a writer like me reads and thinks, "Holy crap. I WISH I WROTE THAT!" What are these two little book beauties? The first is Veronica Roth's DIVERGENT. Absolute perfection. That woman is a gifted story-teller. The second is Franny Billingsly's CHIME. Again, absolute perfection. That woman is a word genius. GENIUS! So if you're looking for writing geniuses, or genius writers, go read their books.


Both of these authors (Gemma Halliday and Bethany Wiggins) are participating in my huge End of the Year Madness Giveaway, so be sure to enter for your chance to win their books!