CAPTIVATING CHARACTERS
It is a fact: I am a character driven reader. I need to really like and care for the characters in order for me to achieve maximum reading pleasure. I met so many incredible characters this year, and here are ten that stood out for me. There was just something special about each of these characters. They may have had incredible quirks or a special talent or maybe they were so broken or sweet or endearing, that they won a place in a my heart. Whatever the case, each of these characters is special to me for some reason.
- Stevie from Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
- Lucy from The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
- Hudson from Going Places by Kathryn Berla
- Zorie and Lennon from Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett
- Millie from Puddin' by Julie Murphy
- Chloe Snow from The Year of Living Awkwardly by Emma Chastain
- Sadie from Sadie by Courtney Summers
- Felix from No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen
- Rosie from Love à la Mode by Stephanie Kate Strohm
- Esther from The Infinite Pieces of Us by Rebekah Crane
Which characters captivated you this year?
Let us know in the comments!
Zoe and Lennon were great! There are a few books in there I'm hoping to get to next year - Sadie, Love A La Mode and Puddin.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the adaptation of Dumplin' made me remember how much I loved Millie. The book was fun and cute, because you can't help smiling when Millie is around.
DeleteI think I’m going to need to read Sadie and No Fixed Address. I’ve seen them on a few of these Blogmas posts.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
No Fixed Address left me so happy. It was adorable and cute, but really meaningful too. Felix was the bomb. Sadie is a fabulous darker read. It's bleak and sad and packs quite an emotional punch.
DeleteClaps excitedly!! Sadie, as you know is a big winner for me in Blogmas. I am still gushing about it and I don't think I gave enough attention to The Dark Descent to Elizabeth Frankenstein. I really enjoyed that one and didn't give it enough attention to it.
ReplyDeleteMary
Sadie is a book that I am glad people are talking about, because it was really good. I have not read Dark Descent, but the concept sounds really good.
DeleteI'm very much a character person too when it comes to books. I still need to read Starry Eyes and Sadie!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
Starry Eyes is soooooooo. good!!!! Sadie is good in a different way, but still excellent. I hope you get a chance to read them both.
DeleteI have got to get around to reading Truly Devious, I love Maureen Johnson. Great picks!
ReplyDeleteCheck out my Top 10 Book Boyfriends
I am a fan of the series, and am excited to read the next book.
DeleteI'm a character driven reader too.
ReplyDeletePuddin' is linked to Dumplin', right? It won't be a surprise that I haven't read them but I've seen the Dumplin' movie on Netflix and it looks pretty good!
Puddin' is Millie's story and Willow Dean and Ellen are in it too.
DeleteI am with you on Sadie! Such intensity, focus and despair! Sophie @bewareofthereader
ReplyDeleteI had to be in the right headspace to read it, but I cannot deny that it was well written
DeleteOoo I've only read Sadie from this list and I have to agree!
ReplyDeleteSadie was a definite standout in 2018
DeleteI just finished Love a la Mode and thought it was cute! I still need to read Starry Eyes.
ReplyDeleteIt was cute. A little different from Strohm's other books. Not as slap-sticky and more heartwarming. Starry Eyes is SO GOOD!!! I hope you get a chance to read it.
DeleteI agree with you about Zoe and Lennon, and especially about Sadie. Several of the others are still on my TBR so it's nice to know I have such great characters to look forward to meeting.
ReplyDeleteI am all about the characters, so for something to make my faves list, the characters have to be worth getting to know.
DeleteSoon after Christmas, Japanese people start preparing for the year-end and New Year’s events.
ReplyDeleteCompared to Christmas, many of these events are based on Japanese tradition and are deeply related to religion.
The end-of-year party is called “bonenkai” in Japanese. “Bonen” means to forget (the worries of) the past year.
People are busy with events on New Year’s Eve.
Sounds interesting.
DeleteSadie would definitely make my list of 2018 captivating characters. That book was almost impossible to put down.
ReplyDeleteConsidering how outside my norm it was, it surprised me how engrossed in it I was, but it was her too. Sadie was really complicated and interesting
DeleteI'm terrible. I've not read any of these! My goal for 2019 is to read what I've been missing.
ReplyDeleteThese are far from your norm. I am sure I would say the same if you had a list like this.
DeleteI have not read a single one of these books! I have some work to do. I did just order the Jenn Bennett book from Book Outlet so I hope to get to that one soon.
ReplyDeleteYou can never go wrong with a Jenn Bennett book. I hope you like it!
DeleteSadie!!! I agree about needing to like and connect with the characters, Sam.
ReplyDeleteOddly enough, Sadie earned her spot just be being so intriguing and tough to figure out. I had empathy for her, but I wouldn't say I connected to her, which is not my norm.
DeleteTotally agree about Lucy from The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl---she was a fascinating character for sure. And I really want to read Sadie. Need to get to that soon. :-)
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Lucy and her grandmother won my heart immediately. Wonderful characters!
DeleteI'm very character driven when I read too. It's super hard for me to enjoy a story if I don't like at least the main characters. Loved Zorie and Lennon, too! Starry Eyes was excellent!
ReplyDeleteHope the Holiday Season is treating you right, Sam! I'm just catching up a bit before the next one arrives! :)
Bennett never fails to write characters I want to know and be friends with. Even her adult characters in her YA book are fabulous. I hope you have a great holiday!
DeleteI'm a character driven person as well! If a character isn't good for me, I usually don't like the book as much. Sometimes it makes or breaks the book as well.
ReplyDeleteAnd I understand that. If I cannot connect to the characters, I need a really compelling plot. Like, Gone Girl - hated EVERYONE in that book, but I could not stop reading it.
DeleteI LOVED Stevie in Truly Devious, and the sequel is definitely one I am looking forward to most in 2019. And Starry Eyes just sounds so awesome- I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteRight? Stevie was awesome and different and interesting. STARRY EYES WAS SOOOOO GOOD!!!!!
DeleteI haven't read any of these books yet but Sadie and Starry Eyes... they are both either on my wishlist or on my TBR. I am looking forward to reading both of these ^.^ I am glad they have such captivating characters.
ReplyDeleteIf you are up for something darker, read Sadie. The story is sad and bleak, but so well written. I don't normally comment on the actual writing, but Summers did some incredible things with that story. Starry Eyes is great for when you need something fun and sweet and adorable and an HEA. Made me warm and fuzzy.
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