Monday, September 26, 2011

GReads is 1 year old! + GIVEAWAY

photo by Elicice
I can hardly believe it was 1 year ago today that I created this book blog.  I started this journey as a place to share my thoughts about what I read.  Not truly understanding the concept of what a "book blogger" meant, I just knew that I liked to read. A lot.  And so I started writing up my opinions on books and posting them for the world to see.  Little by little people began to read what I had to say.  Five followers turned in to twenty five followers, and twenty five followers turned in to two hundred followers.  Somehow I've gained the attention of over 1,000 followers in just a year's time.  That number alone still baffles me.

I am ever so grateful to the ones who keep coming back and reading my thoughts.  I know this blog has become a second home to me.  I pour so much in to it because I truly love doing this.  I appreciate those who recognize my efforts and continue to come back, day after day.  YOU are the reason why I love sharing my thoughts about what I read (and then some).

I still get giddy when an author reads a review I have written.  I still get excited when a publisher sends me advanced copies of something I've been dying to read.  I hope these feelings never fade, because it's the source that propels me to keep doing what I'm doing.  This girl loves to read.  And I love it even more when I can share my excitement with all of you.

Beyond the reading & the reviewing, I have found some amazing friends among you bloggers.  I think this is what's been the most unexpected & satisfying experience through out this entire year of blogging.  It's the friendships that I've created along the way that I hold so dear to my heart.  You guys get me.  You understand my silly fangirl squeals when I've just finished reading something that blew my mind.  A handful of you get to listen to my daily rants and know more about the person behind this blog.  Thank you for giving me your friendship. 

I could write for days on why I love to book blog.  Reading is my passion and being able to share it with you all is a gift.  I've never once looked at this blog as something that I "have to do".  It's always been about what I want to do.  I hope it shows in my posts, reflecting who I am as a person.  Thank you a million times over for being a part of this journey with me.  The first year has been amazing & I can't wait to see what lies ahead for GReads!

Some fun facts from the past year:


Now on to the good stuff... what's a party with out party favors?!  I will be giving away a few of my favorite books that I've read in the last year.  The giveaway is open international (where ever book depository delivers) so please spread the word.  Two winners will be chosen, but YOU have the choice of which book you'd like to receive from the list below.




Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins


***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO ENTERED.***


Photobucket
I receive a small commission from books purchased through the Amazon links provided.

75 comments:

  1. Congrats on the blogoversary!!  I really enjoyed hearing about your personalized stats.

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  2. Congratulations! You were one of the bloggers who inspired me to blog! I hope your love continues and your blog grows more and more! :) 

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  3. Aeicha @ Word SpelunkingFebruary 1, 2012 at 8:18 PM

    Congrats on a year of fabulous blogging and here's to many more!!!
    Thanks for the awesome and generous giveaway :)

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  4. *hugs*

    Happy Blogversary!!

    Even though I've started to read your blog only recently, it's always nice to visit! :D

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  5. Congratulations, girl! You've had a fantastic year! 

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  6. Happy blog birthday, Ginger! You've created a fab blog with a great following! :D

    K.C. Neal, author of Pyxis (YA paranormal)
    http://kcneal.blogspot.com/

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  7. Happy Blogoversary! Here's to many more! I love reading your thoughts on books, thanks! :)

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  8. HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY! I hope this year will be as wonderful as the first one :) And thank you for the awesome giveaway, it was so hard to choose one book from the awesomeness on that list...

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  9. Happy blogoversay, Ginger !
    Even if I don't often comment, I come to visit you quite every day...

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  10. Congrats on your blogaversary, and thanks for this fabulous giveaway! :D

    And I just have to say....I love your Jeremy button over there ----> It's so pretty! :D (He is too haha)

    Thanks again!
    Ambur :)

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  11. Congrats on the blogoversary! Can't believe it's been a year! Mine is coming soon as well. Time seems to be flying!

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  12. Happy blog birthday! What an amazing year :)

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  13. HAPPY 1st Blog Birthday!!!! We'll have to celebrate with cupcakes this Saturday when I get to see you!! YAY!!! Here's to another fabulous year. :D

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  14. Abigail (neeuqfonafamai)February 1, 2012 at 8:19 PM

    Congratulations

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  15. woohoo! congrats! here's hoping to many more years! and i can honestly say that those feelings of excitement and giddiness don't go away! (well they haven't for me anyway!) 

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  16. Congratulations, and Happy Blogoversary!

    I'm afraid that I don't usually comment, but I absolutely love love love reading your blog. Just thought you should know. :)

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  17. Happy blogoversary! You're officially awesome because of your love for the Summer series. Fantastic.

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  18. Congrats on the blogoversary! I laughed at the nail salon search! And can't wait to start the Summer series! So far your rec's haven't let me down.

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  19. Happy blogoversary Ginger!!!! Wishing you many more years of blogging. =D

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  20. Congratulations on your blogoversary!! I'm a faithful reader of your blog and a newbie book blogger. Your blog gives me inspiration and drive to keep it up. Thanks for the generous giveaway.

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  21. Happy Blogoversary!

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  22. Happy Birthday GReads! Congrats! OMG nail salon??? hahah it made laugh out loud :D
    I just honestly want to say that besides of your great book reviews, I also love your design! And I even get inspired by the stuff you designed :D Hope we can celebrate the 10th birthday of your blog :) Cheers =)

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  23. Happy happy happy blogoversary!! I can totally feel your excitement! I love GReads and come  here often (cause you're one of the bloggers I look up to). 

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  24. Aw!! Happy 1st Blogoversary, Ginger!! I hope you have continued success with your amazing blog. I'm happiest about meeting book lovers like myself, and I'm definitely happy to have met you. :)

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  25. Major congrats to you, Ginger!! Here's to many more. *cheers*

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  26. Yay!! Congratulations, G, on reaching the 1 year mark! I'm so honored and privileged to have met you through this crazy world of blogging, and I wish another stellar year for you and your awesome blog...Love Ya G!

    #TEAMJEREMY!!

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  27. Congratulations on your one year anniversary. GReads! quickly became one of my favorite blogs to follow. You always have such fun commentary on books on your blog and twitter! 

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  28. Happy Blogoversary Ginger! I enjoy stalking your blog... reading your posts and reviews! To celebrate your birthday... I'm downloading some Safety Suit

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  29. Muah, muah, muah, MUAH!! Happy one-year blogoversary Ginger!! It's been amazing getting to know you over the past year and you are such a great addition to the book blogging world :)

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  30. Yay! Congratulations on your one year blogoversary!! I am so glad you are part of this community! I have loved being able to chat with you on twitter and participating in TGIF! I am a fan and I can not wait to see what you do over the next year! 

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  31. Happy blogiversary!  You've got a wonderful blog.  --Thanks for the giveaway.

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  32. BLOGOVERSARY PARTAY WHAT WHAT ... happy one-year, my dear

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  33. Happy one year, Ginger! I get some strange queries leading to my blog but I'm pretty sure nail salon beats them.

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  34. Happy Blogoversary!  Wishing you many more!

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  35. Happy one year, G! Thanks for being my first book blogging friend. Here's to many more fangirl moments!

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  36. Happy blog birthday :] 

    You were one of the first book blogs I found. Yours helped me start my own :]

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  37. Ahhh this crazy blogging world (and my inbound/outbound text message count) just wouldn't be the same without you. Your blog is amazing and you kind of complete my life. Here's to many years, many hilarious convos, many music squeals to come. Love ya, dear. 

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  38. Happy Blogoversary !! :)

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  39. Happy Blogoversary!:)

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  40. Yaaaay! Happy Blogoversary! 1 year and you've already gotten more than 1000 followers! AMAZING! My blog is also almost a year and its still trying to get its way to 200 followers. :( But its something! <3 Thank you so much! Hope to be with you and your blog in later years! <3

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  41. i just wanted to say how much of a pleasure it has been being a reader of your blog for the past year.  to think that i was doing this for a whole year without you is so crazy to me because i can't imagine this thing we do without you.  you make me smile on a daily basis with your enthusiasm and passion for books, this community and most importantly to me, music.  thank you for making this past year awesome and here's to many more awesome years <3

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  42. Happy Blog Birthday! Thanks for hosting such a fabulous giveaway!

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  43. Congrats on 1 year & thanks so much for the giveaway!! =)

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  44. Congrats on the blogoversary Ginger, and here's to many more years of bookish fun and success with the blog. Thanks for the great giveaway, too! :-)

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  45. Congrats. And to think you are only a couple weeks younger than my blog! I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed getting to know you via your blog. I think was have very similar tastes in books, so that's always enjoyable. And.... I have those Jenny Han books on my stack..... Thanks for the giveaway! Happy Reading! I can't tweet the giveaway because I'm blocked at work. I'll try to remember to when I get home tonight....

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  46. happy blog birthday ginger i love your blog and your weekly TGIF which i also take part in! I hope you have enjoyed the past year of blogging and hope that continues keep up the awesome work! :)
    melissa @ just one opinion

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  47. HAPPY ONE YEAR! Yay :) and thanls for the giveaway :D

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  48. Not commenting to enter the giveaway, just to congratulate you! I'll turn 1 in 3 days, but I'm far from having that many followers, just about 16 through email subscription; probably more through google reader, but I don't know how to measure that. so congratulations, and Happy blogiversary! Emma @ Words And Peace

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  49. Happy Blogoversary :D
    Thanks for the awesome giveaway.

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  50. Congrats on your blogoversary! :)

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  51. YAY! Such an amazing accomplishment! You should be proud of yourself. ;)

    -Meredith

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  52. Congratulations on your blogoversary! That's exciting to be one year old!

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  53. Congrats!! Thx so much for the giveaway and for making it international. Greetings from Germany! _yay_ BookthatThing!


    Stop by my blog October 3rd #giveawaaaay ;-)

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  54. Congratulations on your Blogoversary!! You have an amazing blog - I'm glad I discovered you!

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  55. Congrats on one year. To be honest, I thought yours was one of the blogs that was around a lot longer, it's come such a long ways in a short time.. and it's so well put together. That's so cute that you still get giddy when and Author reads your reviews. Being a lover of books for all my life, interacting with the Authors is like meeting a movie star to me... Nice to see i'm not alone in being a little star struck. 

    Hope this next year of blogging treats you just as well. :)

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  56. oh how stupid, I thought putting my pic on there would make it my icon.. glad to see I made that Fail on a well populated post.  *I'm a Winner*

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  57. Happy Blogoversary Ginger! 

    "nail salon"? really? Well that's funny. I have to admit I tried looking up your blog by nail salon but it didn't work :/

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  58. Sharon @Obsession with BooksFebruary 1, 2012 at 8:19 PM

    Yay! Happy 1 year Blogoversary & thank-you for an awesome giveaway!

    I have been shamelessly 'stalking' you blog for a while now and always enjoy your wonderful, insightful reviews and posts - thank-you x

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  59. OH GOODNESS> HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY!!! How did I miss this all day?!!?!

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  60. Congrats Ginger! I can't believe you've only been blogging for one year...it feels so much longer that I've been reading your blog!

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  61. Happy Blogoversary! (a day late) I'm happy you solved the nail salon search thingy! :)

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  62. thanks for the giveaway! Happy 1st BLOGOVERSARY :)

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  63. Happy Blogoversary, Ginger! I simply can't believe it's only been 1 year since you you started this blog... you're amazing. Seriously. Congrats on an awesome year! :) Thanks for the giveaway, too!

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  64. Happy blogaversary!

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  65. Jen @ Fictitious DeliciousFebruary 1, 2012 at 8:20 PM

    Congratulations, Ginger!  It's a treat to watch you go through your journey.  Here's to another fun filled year!

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  66. Happy 1 year Blogoversary! Congrats!

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  67. Happy happy happy HAPPY belated blogoversary, G! I still can't believe that I was your very first comment! I remember Carla tweeting about you ("Hey check out my friend Ginger's new blog!") but of course my brain always gets fuzzy with details but HOLLA, "FIRST!"

    You've been such a great voice in the YA blogosphere. Your heavy handed pimping of books are loud and clear and it's so easy for me to pick out a book online or at the bookstore and say I NEED TO READ THIS BECAUSE GINGER LOVED IT. Thank you for being so outspoken and for spreading so much book love.

    And not only book love, but blogger love. Thank you for being SO supportive in this community. You know the very definition of paying it forward and I love how you actually ACT IT OUT. So here's to GReads on her first birthday! I can't wait to celebrate many more to come! <3 you, Ginger! xoxo

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  68. Congrates! Isn't it amazing how fast time passes when you are doing something you love.

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  69. Happy blogoversary! Here is to more years blogging :-D

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