Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Today’s topic is ten books that surprised me (in a good or bad way) and I love this topic! Here’s a list of ten books that, for better or worse, were different than I was expecting.
✴ Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli: I usually don’t re-read books, but I was surprised when this one not only retained all of its original magic, but I also loved it even more the second time around.
✴ The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: I mean, when have I ever expected a book to be this good?!
✴ The Upside of Falling Down by Rebekah Crane: I didn’t expect this book to get into the psychological aftermath of surviving a plane crash!
✴ Kissing Max Holden by Katy Upperman: I thought it would be about more than a boy cheating on his girlfriend. (I was wrong.)
✴ You’re Welcome, Universe by Whitney Gardner: I was surprised to find the least sympathetic heroine of 2017.
✴ A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan: I was surprised that this book won a Pulitzer because it’s really not very good.
✴ All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven: To be perfectly honest, I was surprised that a book that actively blames the main character for her love interest’s suicide has been so revered by the bookish community.
✴ Fraternize by Rachel Van Dyken: I was surprised at who the heroine ends up with.
✴I Hate Everyone But You by Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin: I honestly expected it to be better!
✴ Carry Me Home by Jessica Therrien: I didn’t expect this book to be so dark. (Not that it was a bad thing.)
What have been some of your recent surprising reads?
In 2017, I set three different goals for myself. First, to read 125 books overall. Second, to complete the Modern Mrs. Darcy reading challenge. Third, to read twelve books by debut authors.
I’m still hard at work on my goal of 125 books and I have a couple prompts left for #mmdreading, but my 2017 debut author challenge is officially complete!
While I’ll no longer be actively seeking out debut authors of 2017 (now I need to focus on shrinking my TBR), I’m sure I’ll be reading more. I’m already looking forward to next year’s challenge.
It’s been a busy three days when it comes to galleys! Thinking that I’d only be approved for one or two if I was lucky, I requested a whole ton of books on Netgalley earlier this week. Then, as I was sitting at my desk, minding my own business and trying to do the job that I actually get paid for, my phone started blowing up. Seriously, notification after notification was rolling in and I had no idea what was going on.
I had a constant flow of emails from Netgalley, which was so unexpected! Not only was I approved for five galleys that I’d requested, but I was invited to read Alice Hoffman’s new book!
I’m already knee-deep in The Inevitable Collision of Birdie & Bash, so, what’s next?
It’s been awhile since I did one of these! I was just browsing through upcoming YA releases for my 2017 Debut Author Challenge and I found so many books coming out in August that I’m excited to read! Here are four of my top choices.
The Big Fby Maggie Ann Martin
Expected publication: August 29, 2017
Danielle effed up. Big time.
Danielle’s plans for the future were pretty easy to figure out… until she failed senior English and her single college application was denied. Suddenly she’s in hot water with very few options, because honestly who applies to a safety school when their mom is a semi-famous “college psychic”?!
Determined to get her life back on track, Danielle enrolls in her hometown community college with a plan: pass her English class and get back into Ohio State and her mother’s good graces. Romance isn’t on her radar… until she reconnects with her childhood crush and golden-boy-next-door, Luke.
Between family drama, first love and finding her own way, Danielle can’t help but feel a little overwhelmed. Thankfully she has her friendship with the snarky and frustratingly attractive Porter, her coworker at the campus bookstore, to push her to experience new things and help keep her afloat.
One thing’s for sure: This time, failure’s not an option.
Just Friends by Tiffany Pitcock
Expected publication: August 1, 2017
A new spin on the classic smart-girl-and-bad-boy setup, this witty contemporary romance shows how easily a friendship – even one built on an elaborate lie – can become so much more.
Jenny meets Chance for the very first time when she is assigned as his partner in their Junior Oral Communications class. But after they rescue a doomed assignment with one clever lie, the whole school is suddenly convinced that Little-Miss-Really-Likes-Having-A’s and the most scandalous heartbreaker in school have been best friends forever. It’s amazing how quickly a lie can grow―especially when you really, really want it to be the truth.
With Jenny, Chance can live the normal life he’s always kind of wanted. And with Chance, Jenny can have the exciting teen experiences that TV shows and movies have always promised. Through it all, they hold on to the fact that they are “just friends.” But that might be the biggest lie of all.
After his father has a life-altering stroke, Max Holden isn’t himself. As his long-time friend, Jillian Eldridge only wants to help him, but she doesn’t know how. When Max climbs through her window one night, Jill knows that she shouldn’t let him kiss her. But she can’t resist, and when they’re caught in the act by her dad, Jill swears it’ll never happen again. Because kissing Max Holden is a terrible idea.
With a new baby sibling on the way, her parents fighting all the time, and her dream of culinary school up in the air, Jill starts spending more and more time with Max. And even though her father disapproves and Max still has a girlfriend, not kissing Max is easier said than done. Will Jill follow her heart and allow their friendship to blossom into something more, or will she listen to her head and stop kissing Max Holden once and for all?
The Woodby Chelsea Bobulski
Expected publication: August 1, 2017
After her father goes missing in the woods that they protect, Winter tries to seek the truth in what happened, why the wood is changing, and what it all has to do with the arrival of a mysterious stranger in this thrilling YA debut.
When Winter’s dad goes missing during his nightly patrol of the wood, it falls to her to patrol the time portals and protect the travelers who slip through them. Winter can’t help but think there’s more to her dad’s disappearance than she’s being told.
She soon finds a young man traveling in the wood named Henry who knows more than he should. He believes if they can work together to find his missing parents, they could discover the truth about Winter’s dad.
The wood is poisoned, changing into something sinister—torturing travelers lost in it. Winter must put her trust in Henry in order to find the truth and those they’ve lost.
Are there any books you’re looking forward to this August? Were you lucky enough to get ARCs of any of these books? Let me know what you think!
The Bibliophagist 