356 posts. 3,600+ comments. 40,000+ visitors in 106 countries. 100,000+ views. One very thankful blogger.
With fewer than 30,000 views within the first year of Pop! Goes The Reader’s inception, I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m extremely proud of the level of growth in readership and engagement this blog has seen over the last twelve months. I’m sure to many, these numbers aren’t all that impressive. In fact, they probably seem like nothing at all. No matter how much importance you do (or don’t) attribute to these mathematical statistics that have excited, perplexed and infuriated bloggers since time immemorial, however, they provide a mere snapshot of the overall blogging experience, and not a particularly important one at that. Because they don’t tell you about texting with Ashley. Aquarium visits with Becky. Conversations with David. Advice, honesty and guidance from Ashley. Movie nights with Kathryn. Joking with Jeff. Talking about everything (and nothing at all) with Amy. Getting to know Jennifer and Marisa and Shannon and Brooks. The numbers don’t tell you about the innumerable bright, vibrant, intelligent, creative, and endlessly kind and supportive individuals of which the YA and MG communities are comprised.
It isn’t an exaggeration to say that the last twenty-four months spent running Pop! Goes The Reader have been some of the most fulfilling, the most special, and the most memorable of my life. I’ve read some wonderful books. I’ve run some wonderful events. And – most importantly – I’ve made some wonderful friends. Friends without whom this blog and this experience would be meaningless and who I now can’t imagine my life without. Because, to me, this blog is about more than just books. It always was.
To celebrate this special occasion and attempt to give back even a fraction of the kindness and generosity that have been shown to me over the course of the last two years, I’ve decided to hold a little giveaway. And, because this is Pop! Goes The Reader’s second birthday, I’m giving away not one prize, but two! Please enter below for a chance to win a $100 or $25 Amazon.com or Amazon.ca gift card!
This giveaway will run for one month from June 16, 2016 – July 16, 2016. It’s open to residents of the United States and Canada and the gift cards will ship directly from Amazon to you. You can enter as many (or as few) times as you like. So, what are you waiting for? Go enter!
Thank you for visiting. For reading. For listening. For sharing. For welcoming me with kind words and open arms, warm friendship and unforgettable memories. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Here’s to many more years, and many more celebrations, to come!
52 Responses
You go, you! Congrats on year #2–I love your blog and the wonderful voice you bring to this little corner of the internet.
Sarah recently posted…BEA, NYC & Falafel
Yay, congrats on 2 years!! Your blog is so cute and lovely 🙂
The 2016 book I’m most looking forward to is “The Unexpected Everything” by: Morgan Matson (and the untitled book that is next in the ToG series)!!
Yay! Happy second year of book blogging to you, Jen! Your blog is one of the blogs that I visit everyday! Keep it up! <3
Alena @ Anatomy of a Booknerd recently posted…Review: Sex Criminals Volume 1: One Weird Trick by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky
Congrats!
In 2016, I am most excited for Hearts, Fingers, and Other Things to Cross by Katie Finn!
Happy Blog Birthday, Jen!! I am so very excited for you and am thankful for all of the happiness you bring to the world! 🙂
Happy second blog birthday JEN!!!! I always love reading and ogling your unique, positive & just SO pretty posts!!
Happy blog birthday! I am looking forward to (hopefully) reading the next book in George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series in 2016.
Kara recently posted…How I Saved Money in May
♥ The happiest of blog birthdays to you, love! (and many, many more)
Leah recently posted…weekly wrap-up 6/14
Congratulations on your milestone. I’m very happy to have finally found your blog. Thanks.
I am looking forward to Starflight!
Congratulations on your two year anniversary!!!! This is so exciting<3!!!
The book I'm most looking forward to in 2016 is the new Morgan Matson book you announced yesterday!
Kristin recently posted…Tea & Book Chat: Undertow by Michael Buckley
Who cares about what book I’m looking forward to. Let’s discuss the next level of friendship I’m looking forward to. IS THERE ANOTHER LEVEL OF FRIENDSHIP?! WE SHALL FIND OUT
Frasier recently posted…Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
I’m most looking forward to Marvels by Brian Selznick!
Happy blog anniversary!
Cialina recently posted…Rivals in the City by Y.S. Lee Book Review
Congrats!!! For 2016? I don’t know that I’ve thought that far ahead! I only have 4 on my Goodreads TBR list, but A Week of Mondays sounds really good.
Breenah recently posted…I DO NOT Take You
Happy Birthday!
Happy 2 years, Jen! I still remember when you started and am so happy to see this wonderful blog grow into what it is today. You have lots to be proud of! xo
Ginger @ GReads! recently posted…The Blog Most Likely To… Celebration + Giveaway
I’m torn between Morgan Matson’s The Unexpected Everything and Emery Lord’s When We Collided.
Thanks for the amazing giveaway, and congrats on two UNBELIEVABLE years, Jen!
Tiff @ Mostly YA Lit recently posted…Mini-Reviews: In Which I Read & Love My First Sarah Ockler Book
Happy 2 years!! I am most looking forward to the Rose & the Dagger!
Amanda recently posted…Review: The Shore
Wow! Congrats on two years!
I have no idea which book I’m looking forward to most in 2016. I’m still looking forward to 2015 books! Marissa Meyer’s Heartless comes out next year, right? I can’t wait for that one!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl recently posted…Top Ten Books On My TBR For Summer 2015
Congratulations on your blogoversary!
Awesome giveaway! I’m not sure of what’s coming out in 2016. Shame on me! I do know that I can’t wait for Mercedes Lackey’s HUNTER to drop this year.
Rosie @ The Literary Hedonist recently posted…Boston Author Event 2015
Congrats on two years of blogging! That’s awesome! 🙂
I am looking forward to SO many books in 2016, but off the top of my head, I can say that THE WINNER’S KISS (Book 3 in THE WINNER’S CURSE trilogy) by Marie Rutkoski is a book I’m eagerly anticipating. Must know how it all ends!
This is a very generous giveaway, so thank you!
Jaime Morrow recently posted…Ready. Set. WRITE! (Week 2)
Congratulations on your blogoversary! I’m a quiet blog reader, and don’t comment as often as I should, but I do enjoy the creativity and effort that you put into your blog.
As for 2016 releases, I haven’t paid too much attention to what’s coming out next year. I’m more excited about fall 2015 releases, like Queen of Shadows!
Melissa @ Writer Grrl Reads recently posted…Top Ten Books on my Summer TBR
Congratulations! I’m looking forward to The Queen of the Tearling #3 by Erika Johansen, Half Lost by Sally Green and The Winds of Winter by George R.R. Martin!
Congratulions vor the blogoversarry!
I honestly not looking forward to any books yet in 2016. I’ll wait for reviews first to know which book I might be interested in. Thankyou for the chance!
Happy birthday to wonderful you and your beautiful blog. Thanks for making the book world a better place!
Happy Blog Birthday! I actually just discovered your blog a day ago. I been going thru your posts and been finding so many recommendations, thank you! My library hold list is almost full. Not sure if it comes out in 2016, but I can’t wait for the third book in Jaclyn Moriartys’ Colors of Madeleine to be released.
WOOHOO 2 YEARS! I love your blog, your voice, and your fresh sincerity with all your posts.
Oh gosh, I can’t even dream of 2016 reads yet…maybe Winds of Winter by GRRM or The Wrath and The Dawn sequel!
Lisa @ Bookish Broads recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Summer TBR (28)
I haven’t even thought about 2016 but I am looking forward to this month Dancing in the Duke’s Arms coming out
Happy blogiversary! It’s clear from all your posts how much time and love you put into this blog. I’ve especially enjoyed the Ladies in Literature posts.
I’m most looking forward to The Raven King in 2016, no question!
Happy anniversary!
Happy 2 years of blogging, Jen! It certainly feels like you’ve been doing this for much longer, since you handle yourself like a pro. Congratulations again! <3
Alexa S. recently posted…Abbreviations #11 (AKA The Sherry Thomas Edition)
Truthwitch! I’m also excited about for whatever that year brings for some of my all-time favorite authors (because I’m dying for more books from them): Rachel Harris, Chelsea Fine, and Colleen Hoover. 🙂
Holly J recently posted…(32) Top Ten Books On My 2015 Summer TBR
Oh, and duh CONGRATULATIONS ON THE TWO YEARS!! You have accomplished so much in that time, and I love your blog. I can’t wait to see what this next year brings. 🙂
Holly J recently posted…(32) Top Ten Books On My 2015 Summer TBR
you’re getting so much love in my Twitter feed i had to come over and say congratulations! Happy blog birthday and many more in future!
Congratulations on your anniversary, this is one of my favorite blogs to visit, it’s visually stunning, and always has something to say, too.
The book I’m most excited for is the new Morgan Matson.
I’m really excited to read Morgan Matson’s The Unexpected Everything! 🙂
Paola recently posted…Review: Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone
Happy 2nd Anniversary. Here’s to many more.
Lady, I think you’re the bee’s knees. And the book I’m drooling for in 2016 is Maris Reichardt’s UNDERWATER.
Congrats on your anniversary! The 2016 release I need to get my hands on is THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS by Marieke Nijkamp.
Thanks for doing this giveaway! The book I’m most looking forward to in 2016 is Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare.
Definitely The Raven King is my most anticipated book of 2016. But I’m also looking forward to the last book in The Winner’s Curse trilogy. And Tim Federle also has a YA book coming out that sounds amazing.
molly @ wrapped up in books recently posted…Library Program: A Teens’ TEDx Event
Wow! Congrats on two years!! I am so looking forward to The Winner’s Kiss (Book 3) by Marie Rutkoski!
Congrats on turning two! I’m most looking forward to The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson in 2016!!
Yay! Congrats on turning two! I’m looking forward to Shallow Graves by Kali Wallace
Congratulations on your second blogaversary, Jen! That is so exciting. I always love visiting your blog and seeing what new things you have.
I will tell you three or four or FIVE books I am looking forward to next year! Let me just consult my list:
It Wasn’t Always Like This by Joy Preble, History Is all You Left Me by Adam Silvera, Autofocus by Lauren Gibaldi, Your Machine Anatomy by Hannah Moskowitz, In Real Life by Jessica Love and Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin.
Did I say five? I meant six.
Amber recently posted…Everyone Just Breathe In. Breathe Out.
Happy Happy Happy 2 years to you!!! I am SOOOOO looking forward to The Raven King & (hopefully) The Winds of Winter!! Heres to many many more awesome blog years ahead lovely.
<3 Britt
ALL the books! All of them! There are so many amazing books that have and will be coming out this year! I don’t even know how to choose just one!
Happy blogiversary Jen! Your such a light in this community and always so kind! Such an inspiration!! {hugs} As for the book I’m most looking forward to in 2016? Definitely ‘When We Collided’ and both of Maas books!!
Sarah @ What Sarah Read recently posted…Fangirl Friday with Lindsay from The Broke Book Girls
Hi, I’m new to your site but I wanted to say Congrats on your 2 year blogoversary anyway! I love to see and hear when someone celebrates books and blogs for such a long time. I’m looking forward to The Winner’s Kiss by Marie Rutkoski & Banished by Kimberley Griffiths Little. Thank you for the most amazing giveaway!
Congrats on turning two! I completely agree about blogging being so much more than the books. I’ve met some truly amazing people, and they’ve made the whole experience amazing.
I don’t know that many 2016 releases yet, but I’m definitely looking forward to Paula Stokes’ new one, Girl Against the Universe.
M. | BACKLIST BOOKS recently posted…MY WEEK ON WEDNESDAY | #17
Anything by Tarryn Fisher or Colleen Hoover!
Congrats on two years! I am not sure, but I bet Christina Lauren will have something released then, and I absolutely love all her books!