2016 has really been a milestone for me. It's the year I decided to transform my fierce passion for literature into a tangible, real thing. I started a Twitter for my book fandoms, created a bookstagram where I regularly post (you can find me at @enqireads), bought a bookshelf, a Kindle and tons of physical books, started visiting the library regularly, and of course, created this Goodreads account. 
 I can't remember a day in my life when I haven't loved reading. I was reading picture books with words and connecting them to images in my mind when I was two, and according to my mom, she'd often find the young me curled up with a huge book instead of playing with baby toys. I started reading Enid Blyton at three, and by eight or nine I was reading the great classics such as Jane Eyre, Oliver Twist, Black Beauty, and MG books including Kira-Kira. A few years later, when I began facing one of the greatest struggles of my life, music and most importantly, reading, were the only things I lived for. Tales and stories kept me sane when my body was turning on itself and life became very bleak. I treasured books so much, because there was a magic in them, an enchantment that called to me and pulled me back from the dark brink of depression. 
 Another few years later, and I'm proud to call myself a fighter. I have changed in many ways, my worldview transformed greatly, but the one thing life has never taken from me is my love for books. I will never be able to explain how opening a book feels like I'm coming home. I adore the feeling of being surrounded by books, big and small, thick and thin alike. I have found refuge in the world of fiction, because that is where I truly belong. 
 I'm unbelievably thankful for all the lovely people I met in the second half of this year, after I started all my bookish social media accounts in July 2016. There is really quite nothing like finding like-minded people whom you know share your interests. I am truly glad for all the lovely people I met and the friends I made, because every single one of you fills my life with light and color and beauty. 
 I've read a number of books this year, and whether I rated a book one star or five stars, I want to thank the author who wrote it, because it takes an incredible amount of courage to put your most heartfelt literary work out there into the world and face criticism. I admire you for it, honestly, and know that my rating is a one-time thing; it does not decry your talent or stand for the rest of your work. Everyone has different tastes and different lives, and sometimes a book could have been exactly what I needed or something that just didn't appeal to me at that point. 
 Here is a shelf of all the books I read in 2016: 
 https://www.goodreads.com/review/list... 
 Last but not least... since this is a Goodreads review and I've made some wonderful friends here on GR, I'm going to name some of you so that you know how awesome you are to me. I'm bound to miss some of you lovely souls out, but actually if you even follow me or like my reviews or even just left one comment in 5 months, know that I love you already. Honestly. <3 
 Heartfelt thanks to the following girlies for always being so supportive: 
 Maddie 
 Jessica (Chatterbooks Book Blog) 
 Sam (Rescue Dog Mom & Writer - formerly known as Sue) 
 Sana Khalid 
 Mairenn 
 Reynita Maharani (The Night Reader) 
 Katerina (Btw Kat, I LOVE every single one of your reviews. I live for them) 
 Kainat Ijaz 
 Pragya 
 I definitely missed out some of you :( But I appreciate every single one of my friends on GR, and I try to like all the activity I see on my News Feed. Thanks to you, too, for sticking with me thus far. 
 I've only just entered the bookish Internet world and I'm still a very small presence. But I hope to read more good books, especially diverse reads, and discover more talented authors in future years. Here's to more time spent in the library, on my Kindle, bumping into people while reading and walking, and with my nose buried in a book. <3 
 PS. Apparently my average rating for 2016 was 3.9, so this book gets 4 stars.