Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Today we’re talking about books that actually live up to the hype, and we all know that I tend to dislike overhyped books. That said, here are ten books that are (or were) frequently hyped in the book blogosphere that I actually really enjoyed.
Are there any super-popular books that you would recommend? Did you participate in Top Ten Tuesday today? Feel free to drop your link in the comments and I’ll check it out!
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?
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 2018! In honor of the new year, I thought I’d talk about the best of the best of last year. Here are my top ten reads from 2017. I know I always say “in no particular order,” but this time, they are in descending order. This was such a hard decision because, for the first time in quite a while, I had way more than ten five-star books to choose from!
Coming in at #10 on my list is Infiniby Krista & Becca Ritchie. Has a book ever ripped my heart out quite so much as this one? Luka Kotova is still in my head all these months later. I’m honestly tearing up just thinking about him.
At #9 is The Rules of Magicby Alice Hoffman. Hoffman is an amazing storyteller and, here, she perfectly captured the ambiance of New York with a little magic. The book is at times heartbreaking, at times funny, and always enjoyable.
I’m happy to put Operation Prom Dateby Cindi Madsen at #8 on this list. This book was cute and fluffy and left me wondering why I’d never found a boy like that when I was in high school. I’m eagerly anticipating Cindi’s next YA release.
Next up, at #7, is Turtles All the Way Downby John Green. I’m sure this book is on literally everybody’s “Best of 2017″ lists, but it certainly deserves its spot. This book was about anxiety more than anything else, and I have to applaud it for portraying the nitty-gritty details and not just the cute, quirky bits that often make their way into YA novels.
Book #6 is Everything, Everythingby Nicola Yoon. I flat-out devoured this book. It’s such an interesting concept for a YA book and was so well-executed.
Rounding out the top five is Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agendaby Becky Albertalli. This was my only re-read of the year and I absolutely adored it. Like, even more, the second time around.
It’s getting hard to rank these books, but #4 would have to be Anything You Can Doby R.S. Grey. This was the first book of hers that I ever read and it still stands as my favorite.
We’re getting close to the end, and heading off the top three is The Hating Gameby Sally Thorne. This just barely got the edge over #4 on the list because of the resolution at the end.
#2 on my list is My Lady Janeby Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows. This book was just so much fun, so engaging, and never once felt like it was nearly 500 pages. I cannot wait to read their next Jane book.
Finally, at #1, is The Hate U Giveby Angie Thomas. I am still in utter shock that this was a debut novel. Angie Thomas masterfully described race relations in America without ever once sounding pushy. This book should be required reading.
That’s that! I have officially completed the 2017 Modern Mrs. Darcy reading challenge!
a book you chose for the cover: Batter Up by Robyn Neeley
a book with a reputation for being un-put-down-able: Infini by Krista & Becca Ritchie
a book set somewhere you’ve never been but would like to visit: Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse
a book you’ve already read: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
a juicy memoir: Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham
a book about books or reading: My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
a book in a genre you usually avoid: Damaged Like Us by Krista & Becca Ritchie
a book you don’t want to admit you’re dying to read: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
a book in the backlist of a new favorite author: The Allure of Julian Lefray by R.S. Grey
a book recommended by someone with great taste: Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
a book you were excited to buy or borrow but haven’t read yet: Faithful by Alice Hoffman
a book about a topic or subject you already love: Glamour by A.L. Jackson, Sophie Jordan, Aleatha Romig, Skye Warren, Lili St. Germain, Nora Flite, Sierra Simone, and Nicola Rendell
a Newbery award winner or honor book: Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
a book in translation: The Vegetarian by Han Kang
a book that’s more than 600 pages: A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab
a book of poetry, a play, or an essay collection: Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
a book of any genre that addresses current events: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
an immigrant story: Lucy and Linh by Alice Pung
a book published before you were born: Beauty by Robin McKinley
three books by the same author: Double Team, Prince Albert, and Prick by Sabrina Paige
a book by an #ownvoices or #diversebooks author: If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
a book with an unreliable narrator or ambiguous ending: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
a book nominated for an award in 2017: The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry
a Pulitzer Prize or National Book Award winner: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
The Bibliophagist 