Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Today’s theme is books I loved with fewer than 2,000 ratings on Goodreads. I’m really excited about this theme because it’s been a while since I last shared my favorite hidden gems!
Did you do your own Top Ten Tuesday post today? Feel free to leave your link in the comments and I’ll check it out! What are some of your favorite hidden gems? Let’s talk in the comments!
Recently, I’ve been getting more into book tags. I have a whole ton of them bookmarked that I want to do at some point, but this one felt timely and appropriate for the first half of January.
1. First Ever Female Doctor Who: Favorite Female Protagonist
I loved both Dani from The Big F and Jane from My Lady Jane. There were so many great female protagonists in 2017, though! It was hard to choose!
2. GCC Cuts Ties with Qatar: An Author You Cut Ties With
I don’t want to name names, but I cut ties with an author that I really loved who had the audacity to go on Twitter and complain about a (positive) review that I wrote for her latest book. She claimed that I gave away “the whole plot” when I didn’t even write about anything that wasn’t in the plot summary. I’ve loved her books, but I don’t need that kind of negativity in my life. I won’t be reading anything else that she writes.
3. La La Land Oscar Mix-Up: A Book That Surprised You
Turtles All the Way Downby John Green surprised me in a good way. It had been while since he released a new book and I was really hoping that I’d still love his writing – and I did.
All the Bright Placesby Jennifer Niven surprised me in a bad way. Honestly, I think I’ve talked this to death, but I thought that the way she handled the mental health issues in her book was incredibly irresponsible.
4. Hurricanes and Earthquakes: A Book That Rocked Your World
A lot of books rocked my world in 2017! I had more four- and five-star reads than ever before. The Hating Game, The Hate U Give, and Anything You Can Do top the list of my favorites.
5. Louvre Abu Dhabi: Favorite Book Cover Art
2017 had some great cover art. I mean, just check out my all reviews page! Three favorites, though, would have to be A Million Junesby Emily Henry, Queens of Geekby Jen Wilde, and Infiniby Krista & Becca Ritchie.
6. Da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi Sells for $450M: A Take-My-Money Book
Every year, the answer is the same. I should probably just set up a direct transfer from my bank account to Krista & Becca Ritchie’s. I tried not to repeat books here, but I adored Infini’s cover and I preordered it, so… Anyway. Damaged Like Usand Lovers Like Usare obviously also on this list.
7. Total Eclipse: A Sequel That Overshadows the First Book
I don’t think any of my 2017 reads really qualify! I found most sequels kind of disappointing if I’m perfectly honest.
8. Muslim Ban: Favorite Diverse Book
27 Hoursfeatures an almost entirely LGBT+ cast of varying ethnicities (I think I gave it four stars) and The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtueis about a young, bisexual British man and his biracial best friend/crush traveling around Europe (I gave it four stars as well).
9. Italy Doesn’t Qualify for World Cup: Most Disappointing Book
I saw a lot of people raving about Next August by Kelly Moore, but I couldn’t even make it through the first half. It was my one true DNF of the year (I don’t count Norwegian Wood since I just got bored and put it down).
10. Prince Harry Engaged: Favorite Ship
I loved Joshua and Lucy from The Hating Game! (Sorry for repeating books again, but they stand out in my mind as the best couple of the year.)
11. Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Most Anticipated Book
I’m not really sure what this question is getting at, so I have multiple answers for you.
My most anticipated of 2017 that I actually read in 2017 was A Conjuring of Lightby V.E. Schwab.
The book I most anticipated in 2017 that doesn’t come out until 2018 is My Plain Janeby Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows.
And as a bonus, the book I was most anticipating for 2017 that I didn’t actually read is One of Us Is Lyingby Karen McManus.
What do you think? Would your answers be different? Did you do this book tag? Let me know!
Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Today’s theme is ten books I want my future children to read and rather than write about the various board books that I’ve read to my nephew and my friends’ children, or write about the middle grade books I loved back in the day, I thought I’d talk about ten issue-driven YA novels that would help expand their horizons without being too preachy.
✨ If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo: A reminder that something as simple as using the correct pronouns and treating someone like a human being can make all the difference.
✨ What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler: A reminder to speak up – especially when it’s hard – if you see something that shouldn’t be happening.
✨ The Tyrant’s Daughter by J.C. Carleson: A reminder that not all members of a region or a religion are the same and to keep an open mind.
✨ The Big F by Maggie Ann Martin: A reminder that it’s okay to fail as long as you pick yourself back up and keep going.
✨ The List by Siobhan Vivian: A reminder that words and jokes can hurt and to be careful with what you say.
✨ Cherry by Lindsey Rosin: A reminder that it’s okay to do what you want with your own body as long as everything is consensual and you’re being safe.
✨ A List of Cages by Robin Roe: A reminder to always be kind because you never know what’s going on behind closed doors.
✨ The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: A reminder that racism is alive and well in this country and it’s up to us to consciously fight it.
✨ Made You Up by Francesca Zappia: A reminder to actively fight the mental illness stigma rather than feeding into it.
✨ Beauty Queens by Libba Bray: A reminder that teenage girls are strong and powerful and can do anything that they set their minds to.
If you had to choose ten books that you’d want to pass along to your future children, what would they be?
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.
