2017 was a year where I really needed the escape into pop culture. I buried myself in books and TV as much as possible (gee, I wonder why?) — but it didn’t always work out! I tried and then tapped out of The CW’s Riverdale. Despite all of the X-Men connections, something about The Gifted on FOX just puts me to sleep. I bailed on Showtime’s highly anticipated revival of Twin Peaks after four episodes. There’s only so much self-indulgence and [ominous whooshing] a gal can take (and I don’t buy the ’18-hour movie’ defense). I changed cable packages and lost access to OWN, so I’m behind on Queen Sugar. Plus, I had to put one of my favorite soaps — The Bold and the Beautiful — on pause because it stopped being fun to watch.

But, thankfully, there was still more than enough media to keep me engaged! Check out my faves and raves.

Favorite Books
White Hot by Ilona Andrews
Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop
Stillhouse Lake and Killman Creek by Rachel Caine
An Unnatural Vice by KJ Charles
An Extraordinary Union and A Hope Divided by Alyssa Cole
Take the Lead by Alexis Daria
Girl on the Verge by Pintip Dunn
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins
Hate To Want You by Alisha Rai
The Red by Tiffany Reisz
American Prince by Sierra Simone
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Favorite Shows
Days of our Lives (NBC)
The Exorcist (FOX)
The Get Down (canceled by Netflix)
Good Behavior (TNT)
The Good Place (NBC)
The Originals (The CW)
The Punisher (Netflix)
Underground (canceled by those assholes at WGN)
Wynonna Earp (SyFy)

Favorite Movies
Gifted
Girls Trip
Logan
Thor: Ragnorak
(I still haven’t seen Get Out or Coco. Forgive me!)

Favorite Lead Actress: Michele Dockery, Good Behavior; Mishael Morgan, The Young and the Restless

Favorite Supporting Actress: Amirah Vann, Underground and How to Get Away With Murder

Favorite Lead Actor: Daniel Gillies, The Originals; Jon Bernthal, The Punisher

Favorite Supporting Actor: Jimmy Smits, The Get Down and How to Get Away With Murder; Billy Flynn, Days of our Lives

Favorite Scene Stealer: Tiya Sircar, The Good Place; Eileen Davidson, Days of our Lives

Favorite Ensemble: The season two cast of The Exorcist was phenomenal — from leads Alfonso Herrera and Ben Daniels to John Cho, Zuleikha Robinson and Li Jun Li, to Brianna Hildebrand and the rest of the younger crew. There wasn’t a single weak link in the bunch!

Favorite Actors Who Need Their Own Goddamn Storylines: Camryn Grimes, The Young and the Restless; Abhi Sinha, The Young and the Restless

Favorite ‘Ships: Javier & Letty, Good Behavior; Paul & Will, Days of our Lives; Hayley & Elijah, The Originals; Wyatt and Katie, The Bold and the Beautiful; Coulson & May, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Favorite Piece of Fan Fiction I Wrote This Year: I actually managed a whopping 15 fics this year, which is pretty great considering I’ve struggled with writer’s block! My faves are probably “Until It So Desires” for The Punisher and “A Laying of Hands” for Game of Thrones.

Favorite Twitter Account: Chrissy Teigen (@chrissyteigen), Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans)