Giveaway! Blogoversary and 2015 End Of Year Review

It's almost the new year and at this time of year not only do we reflect back on what we've done, we booknerds reflect on what books we've read. New Years Day is also the celebration of three years of Diva Booknerd. Who knew this modest little book blog would not only make it to three years but we'd like to think we've been able to recommend new books for readers to discover along the way. So before we ring in the new year, here's a look back at 2015 along with an international giveaway. Giddy up.

Kelly's Favourites

Illuminae
Kelly's Review
★★★★★

Way Down Dark
Kelly's Review
★★★★★

Night Owls
Kelly's Review
★★★★★

The Rest Of Us Just Live Here
Kelly's Review
★★★★☆
Snow Like Ashes
Kelly's Goodreads Review
★★★★★

The Bone Season
Kelly's Review
★★★★☆

Kelly's Disappointments

Armada
Kelly's Review
★★
A Thousand Nights
Unfinished
What We Left Behind
Unfinished

Kelly's Best Blogging Moment

By far my best blogging moment of the year was when Kynndra finally came to her senses and decided to coblog with me back in October. I knew that eventually I could wear her down. It's been a hard year for me personally and I tried to work my way through a blog and reading slump. After almost three years of blogging alone, I was about to walk away. Kynndra is the reason I've kept going. Even when I first begun blogging, it was never as rewarding as it is since Kynn has joined me and for that, I'm incredibly thankful not only for sharing my love of books, but for being an incredible friend. I couldn't ask for more.

The second half of the year has been incredibly trying for me on a person level. My mother has been terribly ill and I've struggled to find the motivation to blog. I've stepped down from my duties within the Aussie YA Bloggers & Readers group that I founded along with Brittany, which was not only a difficult decision but also to those who continue to guide the group, I felt that I had let them down and pulled away from the community instead. What brought me back to my love of not only reading but social media again was published author and dear friend Rachael Craw, who surprised me with a box full of love and munchies. I've never felt more accepted as part of our community. If you want to read more about my surprise, you can find my thank you post to Melissa Keil, Rebecca James, Ellie Marney, Gabrielle Tozer, Walker Books Australia and the lovely Rachael by clicking here.

To everyone who's left a comment, tweeted us, followed us and thrown books at us. Thank you.

Kynndra's Favourites

Fire Falling
Kynndra's Review
★★★★★

... To A Small Angry Planet
Kynndra's Goodreads Review
★★★★★

Golden Son
★★★★★

Sleeping Giants
Kynndra's Review
★★★★★
The Demon King
★★★★
The Wrath & The Dawn
★★★★★

Kynndra's Disappointments

The Infinite Sea
★★★
Legacy Of Kings
★★★☆
Ink and Bone
★★★

Kynndra's Best Blogging Moment

Finding my best friend. I've known Kelly for a year now, long before I joined her on DB. But if I had to say what my best blogging moment was? It's easily meeting Kelly through my other blogging ventures. I haven't co-blogged with her for long, but I've had conversations with her far into the night over the past few months. This year has been a difficult one, harder than most and I genuinely don't know where I would be without her in my life. Probably very lonely, and lost. Blogging with her, and sharing this platform is just a bonus. I think we were both meant to meet, as corny as it is. I didn't think blogging suited me until I started doing it with my best friend. Truthfully, I'm mostly thankful that I dared to begin blogging, otherwise if I hadn't, I would have never met this wise ass Aussie I've come to adore like a sister. Thank you so very much, Kells.

Kynndra's Tumblrs

See the full post here
See the full post here
Follow Kynndra via Tumblr

Highlights

Most of you are either from the United States or Australia.
Some of you are still searching for the Mockingjay ringtone. Stop it.
It seems our most popular posts are still giveaway posts. Greedy bastards.
I've kept my current template for the entire year. This is an achievement.
You've really increased the spam this year. No, neither of us need a longer penis.
Kynndra finally caved and joined Diva Booknerd in October. She's Canadian. Speak slowly.
Kelly has read 140 books this year with an average rating of 4.1 stars.
Kynndra has read 50 books with an average rating of 4.41 stars.
Kelly tried to live a healthier lifestyle. Then quit. She's much happier now.
Kynndra now has her license. Look out pedestrians.
Tahereh Mafi tweeted kisses to Kelly. She's now naming her first born after her.
We joined Facebook. Lord knows why. It's shithouse.
The author of Sleeping Giants loved Kynndra's review and sent her a gift.
Really, you need to move on from the Mockingjay ringtone. It's getting annoying.

Kelly's 2016 Booknerd Resolutions

I want to read more young adult historical fiction in particular, surrounding the French Revolution.
Increase my reading goal to 160 books. Then decrease it when no one is paying attention.
Read more middle grade novels and Australian authors in general.
Stop purchasing online and support my local bookstores.
Make it onto Paper Fury's favourite bloggers list. Or stuff her full of cake.
Give everyone a nickname. Rather than refer to you all as stinky.
See our quotes on a book cover. Even if I need to deface a book with a sharpie.

Kynndra's 2016 Booknerd Resolutions

Read more than 50 books in a year. I'm a slow reader. I want to get to 100.
Start collecting hard copies of books I love - all I have are ebooks.
Read more new releases, I'm usually way behind on the 'in' books. Not that that's a bad thing.
Make more blogger friends, no seriously. I am a shy moose and I need to crawl out of my hermit hole.
Go to a book signing, even though those are nearly impossible to find in Canada. Sigh.
Save up money to go to BEA 2017 (Ha! It's nice to dream, right?) PS: Anyone know where it'll be held?
I second Kelly, I would love to see one of our quotes on a book. That's always cool.
Continue to be a awesome co-blogger while juggling work. Whenever I work.

Kelly's 2016 Most Anticipated Reads

Kynndra's 2016 Most Anticipated Reads

The Raven King

Giveaway

To celebrate the third birthday of Diva Booknerd, we're giving away a book of choice from The Book Depository or Amazon giftcard to the value of $15.00AUD to one lucky winner. Giveaway is open internationally but if you're under 13, please seek your parents permission to enter.

47 comments

  1. Congratulations on your blogoversary! The blog is so pretty, and I find I almost always have identical thoughts to Kelly on most books.

    You guys were much more disciplined than me though, I narrowed my list down to about 30.

    The Raven King is definitely my most anticipated for 2016.

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  2. As for the question, if I really have to narrow it down to three, I'd have Sam and Dean Winchester (TV counts right?) and Adrian Ivashkov, because the champagne would be flowing and he'd pick up the bill. Happy birthday to me!

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  3. Congrats on everything and here's to an amazing 2016!

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  4. Wohoo! Congrats on the 3 years, ladies! I've only discovered you recently but you ladies are my favorite. :)
    I'm really happy to see Night Owls and Illuminae in your favorites list, Kelly.
    I still need to read Fire Falling from your list, Kynndra.
    Your guys' resolutions made me smile. Hopefully, you'll achieve them in 2016.
    Happy New Year's ladies and once again, congrats! :D

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  5. Apparently, I'm a greedy bastard :P.
    But I would have commented EVEN without the givvy - I swear! Your post was too neat and humorous not to.
    I would probably end up borrowing Sam & Dean from Nicole X above (if it's OK with you Nicole?), but my third guy would have to be Castiel, because whoever came up with his character was a darn genius. I friggin' love the man!
    Happy 3rd blogoversary and rock on!

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  6. Ok so I would invite ALex Cross, Stephanie Plum and Harry Potter!! Happy Blogoversary!!

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  7. Ah. Happy Anniversary to you both! Kelly, you know how much I love you. And Kynndra, from one Canadian to another, you rock. Keep doing what you do! <3

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  8. Thanks a lot and congratulations P_P

    My three fictional caracthers would be Mal and Alina from the grisha trilogy because they are my babies. And jaime lannister from GOT because he's my baby boy :P

    thanks!

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  9. CONGRATS!!
    I second pretty much all of Kynndra's booknerd resolutions. I am trying to make more of an effort to actually comment on all the lovely blog posts I read ;)

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  10. Congratulations on the blogoversary! 3 years is so long... I can't imagine having blogged for that long!It sounds like you've had an awesome year, and I wish you all the best for 2016. I hope you finally might be able to read 100 books in a year! (It's a lot, and I imagine would be so hard!)

    Denise | The Bibliolater

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  11. Congratulations on your Blogoversary! Always great to hear a blog celebrating that milestone. I know I'll probably get flack but I'd have to invite Edward from Twilight because he was my very first book boyfriend. My first book I ever read period. I'd also invite Reed from Inescapable by Amy Bartol because who doesn't want an Angel to come to their party? Also Trey from Under Different Stars by the same author just because I love him. Thank you for making me add a bunch more books to my TBR list. ;) Happy New Year!

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  12. Happy Blogoversary! Glad you two came together and are much happier now. LOL at the highlights! And yup, Night Owls and Golden Son were some of my favorites too.

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  13. Happy Blogiversary! I love your blog soooo much, and you're probably one of the best book bloggers I know Kelly! I didn't know there was another person co-blogging with you! Kynndra's tumblr is BEAUTIFUL.
    Happy New Year guys!

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  14. Happy Blogoversary and new year! You guys have read some great books this year :D Hopefully 2016 is just as good reading wise!

    And yes I'm greedy and entering a giveaway but I'm on a buying ban so have to get books somehow :P What characters would I invite to a party? Well Lysandra and Aedion from Throne of Glass series would be hilarious and probably both know how to make a party awesome. As for the third character let's go Evie from The Diviners because she'd bring the entertainment.

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  15. AWWW. KELLY. <3 yOU ARE ON MY FAVOURITE BLOGGER LIST!! You totally are. ;D But I will still accept being given cake. *nods* Much cake. I deserve cake. #LegitTruth And I'm so sad you've had a rough year, so gah, maybe I'll just give you cake (in the shape of Morpheus?) and throw books of happiness at you. *tackle hugs you*

    I swear i don't stop round at your blog as much as I want to, gahhh, WHY IS LIFE SO BUSY MERP. But I've loved reading Kynndra's posts (YAY!! DEMON KING!!!) and looking at everyone's gorgeous graphics and Kynndra's tumblr, and reading BOTH your witty amazing posts and afjdkslafd ALL THE LOVE.

    Yup. I'm done now. HERE IS TO A GOOD 2016!

    *helps self to party cake*

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  16. ♥♥♥ KELLY! I consider you one of my closest bloggy friends, and I have no idea what I would do without you. Your snarky comments and your sass never fails to make me laugh. Thank you for being so amazing. xx

    And Kynndra, I am so glad you joined Diva Booknerd this year! Your posts are amazing and your graphics are absolutely gorgeous. xx

    Thank you girls for being such an incredible part of the blogging community! Here's to another year of Diva Booknerd!

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  17. Congrats on the blogoversary! I'm glad that you decided to join the blog Kynndra and that Kelly didn't quite the blog after all. You guys are great!! :)

    -Lauren

    p.s. I'd invite the following fictional characters to my b-day party: Luna Lovegood, Cress from the Lunar Chronicles, and Charlie from Perks of Being a Wafllower. :)

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  18. HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY GUYS!

    I love this blog...even if I don't visit as often as I want to. You guys are the best.

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  19. KELLYYYYY I hope 2016 goes better for you <3 <3 I've missed seeing you around the blogosphere! We'll all still be here when you return (and there are SOME people we'll never get rid of *ahem* Cait)

    And Kynndra, looks like you two are kindred spirits, which makes me happy. All the best for 2016, ladies :)

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  20. Congrats on another milestone and Happy New Year!!

    It would be nice if Leo Valdez, Luna Lovegood and Zuzana Nováková comes over at my party which, I'm actually celebrating today! I just turned 18 yay!

    Congratulations again girls :) Cheers!

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  21. Good stuff: You should have seen the silly grin on my face reading your BOOKNERD RESOLUTIONS, I’m with you both on so many of them :-) Oh and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!! SOOOO many of these books are on my TBR!!! Illuminae & Night Owls are in my top five for 2016 for sure.

    Hard stuff: I hope things are getting better on the home front Kelly.

    The Truth: 2016 will be awesome, WE WILL MAKE IT SO!

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  22. HAPPY NEW YEAR. I'm very very excited to read Illuminae and even more so now that I know it's on your favourites list. I absolutely adore Kynndra's tumblr, and your design is basically ALWAYS GORGEOUS. I love both your booknerd resolutions -- and I'm hoping beyond hope that BEA17 will be after the May IB exams so I can make it there! Fingers crossed for both of us that we can get there.

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  23. Happy New Year and congrats for 3 years! *throw confetti* You guys are awesome! Kelly, sorry to hear that you have a rough year, but I'm glad that the blogging community has help you <33 Kynndra, we basically have the same resolutions! I want to make more blogger friends too! Sadly, I have no plan to go to BEA17, but maybe someday when I've finished college and have a steady job :) Anyway, hope you guys have a great year ahead <3

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  24. Happy blogoversary! And Happy New Year!

    Kelly, I hope your Mum is improving? I'm sorry to hear she's so ill, and that has affected you negatively (understandably). It's never easy when someone we rely on, suddenly relies on us for support :( You haven't let anybody down, life circumstances change and sometimes we need to walk away from things whether it's for a while, or for good. I'm so glad you're sticking around though, I love reading your posts!

    Kynndra - it's been nice to meet you (erm, virtually) this year! <3

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  25. I would invite Hermione, Clarke Griffin from The 100 and Thomas from the Maze Runner!

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  26. That's such a difficult question to answer! I suppose if I have to choose, I would go with Sherlock Holmes, Mark Watney, and Nobody Owens.

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  27. I would invite Luna Lovegood because of her weird dancing style, Pippin from LOTR because he knows how to party and Margo from Paper Towns because she'd leave straight away and leave me with more cake!

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  28. Happy Anniversary! I'd invite Percy Jackson, the Weasley Twins, and Finnick Odair :)

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  29. Happy Anniversary! mmm, My guests are Draco Malfoy , Hermione Granger and Andromeda Black <3 all of the Harry Potter saga <3 Iloveit, Thank You for the Giveaway :D

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  30. Great question! I would have to invite Ned Stark because he's a hunk, Serene Van Der Woodsen so she could become my besty, and Dumbledore so he could give me some wisedom! Happy New Year, I hope this one brings you happiness and lovely things xx

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  31. WHy IS KYNNDRA'S TUMBLR SO GORGEOUS? Seriously, Kynn, I'm in awe. I love it, and I'm going to follow you now *scurries off* Happy New Year! <3 Oh, and Kelly, your snark is to die for. I feel like I'm missing out, because the entire blogosphere has being going on about Illuminae so I need to see what the fuss is about. Oh, and happy blogosphere guys <3

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  32. I think I'd invite Kate Daniels and Curran Lenart (from the Ilona Daniels series because I love them - they're so tough and cool), and finally Gandalf from LoTR, because he could show me a thing or two about being a wizard.

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  33. Kelly: NIGHT OWLS IS SO GOOD, ISN'T IT!? *cries* I LOVE IT SO MUCH! I wish more people would pick it up. And I'm sorry to hear that you've had a rough year. I only discovered this blog a couple of months ago - October(ish)? But it's a highlight so chin up! Maybe 2016 will be your year...? I'm trying to read more Australian books this year too.

    Kynndra: Holy shivers, your Tumblr *swoons*. And well, *fellow shy hermit wave*! I'm a lonely little possum too, so if you're in need..

    And to my bday part I'd probably invite Jack & Bex (from Night Owls), Will Herondale and Will Treaty (from Ranger's Apprentice)... that's four peeps but sssh, no one noticed.

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  34. Congrats on three year! That gif of Sam is just wonderful.
    Everyone is recommending Illuminae. I'm so bad at reading books everyone loves. I don't know why but whenever I break the habit I regret not reading it earlier. I will read anything by Patrick Ness after reading A Monster Calls so The Rest Of Us Just Live Here is a must. I'm so happy you've continued blogging Kelly and that Kynndra has become such a great partner in crime (:
    I'm so sorry your mother has become ill. I hope everything turns around for her and you keep your chin up.
    Pierce Brown's series has been shaming me the longer it has gone on. Admittedly I've become interested after a book youtuber has declared basically the most handsome author around lol. Kelly's great Kynndra and I'm happy you aren't feeling lonely. The reading and blogging world can really do wonders as far as friendships. And I see that Adam Parrish tumblr post and you are getting me emotional because Gansey and the last book is going to crush me....
    Kelly - There aren't many amazing MG books I've read other than Percy Jackson which I know you've read. You might like The Truth About Twinkie Pie, Museum of Thieves, and The School for Good and Evil (considered YA/MG). I really need to read more this year too because I'm stuck in YA land most of the time.
    I would invite Scarlet (from Scarlet the Robin Hood series), Blue, and Feyre to my birthday party because they are all badass and I want their wisdom and adventurous spirits.

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  35. Congratulations on the blogoversary guys! Thank you so much for your amazing posts and updates throughout the year. I'd probably take Four from Divergent, Tamlin from ACOTAR and Celaena because I love them all <3

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  36. Congratulations on three years of blogging, you guys! I wish you many more wonderful bookish years to come. Wishing you a wonderful 2016 and that you read so many awesome books it blows your mind! <33

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  37. Kelly you are very inspiring blogger and incredible person, I’m so happy that you continue to post your thoughts here despite real life problems. And I’m so glad Kynndra joined you here. I’m a slow reader too, I’ve read 50 books in 2015. But I don’t want to feel pressure in 2016, so I put 50 books in my GR challenge. Happy blogoversary and thanks for the giveaway! Good luck with your goals!

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  38. Happy New Year and Blogversary!!! Can I have Tarver from These Broken Stars, Jonah Griggs from On the Jellicoe Road and Jack Hunter from Lovely Vicious <3<3

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  39. Thanks for the giveaway guys! I would take to my birthday Levi from Fangirl, Raffe from Angelfall and Isis from Lovely Vicious!

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  40. Hi girls, oh boooy I haven't visited your blog in a while. :( The end of 2015 was a little insane for me, and work totally lied when they said the load would ease up during December. LIES, I TELL YOU. LIES!

    Unfortunately, blogging and even reading was sidelined so hopefully I can get into the swing of things again soon. A MASSIVE happy blogoversary to you both!! I'm so glad you found each other, and Kels, I'm glad you didn't stop blogging. I know times have been tough, but always remember that we love you and would hate to see you leave. *clings on*

    Hmm, who would I invite eh? I think Hermione Granger, Celaena Sardothien and Flynn Cormac because <3

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  41. Thank you for the giveaway.
    Gabriela L.

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  42. Congrats on three years!

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  43. I HOPE TO SEE YOU AT BEA 2017 TOO KYNN :D (still not sure if I'll go but I'm graduating that year so it would be a magnificent senior present! <3)

    I'm so glad there were people who could pull you up from your blogging slump Kelly. Hip hip hooray for them! *sprinkles confetti and candy* We all need people like that in our lives. :))
    (Also YAAAS to Illuminae being at the top of your list hehe)

    But I can't wait for the Winner's Kiss and The Raven King too! What do you do to us, series finales? T o T

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  44. Fred and George Wisley from Harry Potter
    And Lily Calloway from Addicted to you

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  45. Congratulations on three years of blogging! :)
    I would invite Ron Weasley, Gansey from The Ravens Boys and Dante from Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe :)

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  46. CONGRATULATIONS!!

    My three would be Cress, Iko, and Cinder from The Lunar Chronicles.

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