Favorite 10 Books from 2011

I read more books this past year than I have in a really long time and that's mostly thanks to: having a Nook, fellow reading buddies (Hi Estelle, Michelle and Ate Jackie!), GoodReads and lots of googling for recommendations (book blogs - where have you been all my life?).  I consider myself pretty open-minded when it comes to choosing books but I have to say.. I've been reading a ton of YA lately, especially fantasy.  I know I've said it before but those type of books, more than any, provide me with the kind of escapism I'm looking for.  But not all of my favorite books from the past year are YA. There's some regular fiction on the list and a memoir that I didn't expect to like so much.  I mean, when it comes down to it, I just want to read something that's well-written and has a good plot, strong characters, a little (or a lot depending on my mood) of romance.  I don't think that's asking for too much!

So, without further ado, here are my favorite reads from the past year, in no particular order (note: these books didn't necessarily come out it in 2011):

1. The Mortal Instruments (City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels) by Cassandra Clare 
2. The Jessica Darling series (Sloppy Firsts, Second Helpings, Charmed Thirds, Fourth Comings, Perfect Fifths) by Megan McCafferty
3. Iron Fey series (The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen, The Iron Knight) by Julie Kagawa 
4. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson 
5. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
6. Fever series (Darkfever, Bloodfever, Faefever, Dreamfever, Shadowfever) by Karen Marie Moning
7. Divergent by Veronica Roth 
8. Falling for Me - How I Hung Curtains, Learned to Cook, Traveled to Seville, and Fell in Love by Anna David
9. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
10. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Honorable Mentions: 

Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare

The Tiger's Curse series by Colleen Houck

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak