Faves of 2011 (so far) - Round Two: The Characters

Alright, so Nomes @ Inkcrush is running this awesome survey about the best books of 2011 so far, and I decided to join. Now, my only particular rule for this survey is that I shall talk about books I read for the first time during 2011, regardless of the year they were first published. 

Now, onto Round Two!

1. best female POV

Terra (North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley) She's observant, she's so lost, she's smart about somethings and a complete idiot about others. She feels so very real.

And the Girls from Starfish Sisters by J.C. Burke - Micki, Gerogie, Ace and Kia - four very different voices, four very different girls, yet I believed each of them. It's one book, one author but I never mistake one girl for another, and they are real to me.

2. best male POV

Tie between Tom Mackee (The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta) and Adam (Where She Went by Gayle Forman) because they were absolutely believable in their mistakes and the choices they make. I never thought "this is a woman writing a man" I just thought they were Tom and Adam.

3. Best couple

Tara and Tom (The Piper's Son), because they had to earn their being together. They were friends for years, they had a one-and-a-half night stand, and then Tom's life imploded, and for a while it seemed like that was it, until Tom decided to fix his life and knew that she had to be in it and he sets about being her friend again. They talk, and they listen and they fall in love again.

I'm going to share one of my favorite scenes of the book, it happens near the end, so beware!!

"...They are talking about me. They have a look of fear on their face. Even my parents, who created me, are afraid. I see that look on a lot of people's faces when they see me, Tom. Never yours." 

"I keep it hidden, but it's there. Believe me, you frighten me to death, but for different reasons."

4. who i so want to be best friends with

Alona Dare (Ghost and the Goth by Stacy Kade) I know she's the queen bee, and that she's mean and a little bitchy, but she's fun and I've actually have had friends like that and they are mad fun. She is loyal to her friends, and has a good heart underneath it all, plus with each book of the series I like her more.

5. who i fell completely in love with (new literary crush)

Cal (Demonglass by Karen Hawkins), I adored him. I so want him for my own. He's such an amazing, steady guy and I love him for it. So, while other girls fight over Archer, I'm going to kidnap Cal and keep him in my closet and he shall be my love slave.

6. worst (best) villain

Melaina (The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal) - the lengths this woman goes, the way she plots and schemes to get what she wants, and how she tramps all over whomever stands in her way. She literally sets the whole thing in motion, without her there is no story, and that's the mark of a true villain.

7. best character twist (who you loved then hated or vice versa)

Hated then Loved:  

Meredith (Princess for Hire by Lindsay Leavitt), she was such an abrasive character at the start, but I liked her once I knew more of her story.

Conrad (Summer Series by Jenny Han), I never really got the swoon where he was concerned, other than he was older and cute, but I never understood him until I got to the last book of the series. Then I got him, and only then I liked him.

Loved Then Hated:

Nora (Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart) - I think that, in the end, she let me down as a friend. I always thought she was a good friend and a sweet person, but the more I get to know her the more I realize she's a bit judgmental.

Tessa (The Reluctant Heiress by Eva Ibbotson) - See, I was ready to like Tessa, I thought she would be another too sweet girl by Ibbotson; but boy was I wrong. Tessa starts nice enough but quickly I realized she was simply Too Stupid to Live and that's just not something I can over look, plus, I take heroine suckiness personal

8. best kick-arse female

Desi (Princess for Hire), she uses her powers for good and she stands up for others, and she tries to do what's right rather than what's easy. Also Micki (Starfish Sisters), she's a girl who has every reason to be bitter but she consciously fights the toxic feelings and is a cheerful, talented girl who's trying to do the best she can under the circumstances.

9 best kick-arse male

Mmm... I don't know.  Honest. I've loved some of the guys I've read this years but for me being a Kick-ass guy implies a ton of things.

10. broke your heart the most

Adam and Mia (Where She Went)- hands down, their story and all they go through. Some seriously bad stuff happens to them, and it's just... well, won't spoil, but you know.

11. best/worst character names

Best: Sophie Mercer (Demonglass), I might be a bit biased because Sophie is one of my favorite names ever; but I just love a normal, down to earth name.

Also, Amelia Hayes (Good Oil by Laura Buzo), it's just such a lovely name, has a nice ring to it.

Worst: Belly (Summer Series), because really it was just a ridiculous name. 

BONUS: 5 fave covers (from books i have read)

 

Kat, Incorrigible - fits the book, it's whimsical and adorable. 

The Ghost and The Goth - oh, it does show the mood of the book, I swear, even though they guy isn't exactly as I imagine Will, the girl is completely Alona. 

Good Oil - Love this one to death, don't know why, I just do.

The Piper's Son - I refuse to aknowledge the US cover, I think the Aussie one is amazing, fits the book and it blows me away. 

Dreams of Significant Girls - I didn't like this book but I loved the cover, it has such a sense of... possibility.