Discussions Archives - Page 26 of 69

Books I Couldn’t Fall In Love With | Overrated Books

Jun 18, 2020

Last week I shared some of my favourite underrated books. Today I want to share that I think are overrated. These are the books that I’ve read but can’t understand the hype. That I could not fall in love with. This doesn’t mean they are necessarily bad books. But more that, they aren’t for me and I can’t see why people don’t like them.

Books becoming hyped is always really interesting to see. I find it quite fascinating really. I like seeing what books people are loving and why. Sometimes I understand the hype and sometimes I don’t, hence why they feel overrated to me. Like always these are in no order.

Fix Her Up (Hot & Hammered #1) by Tessa Bailey: This is a recent read that I really don’t understand. When this first came out it was everywhere. From both romance and non-romance bloggers. Everyone was reading it and loving. So I felt pretty good going in. However, I was so disappointed. You can check out my discussion with Ely and see why this book was such a let down for me.

How We Roll by Natasha Friend: Now this wasn’t a bad book at all. I feel everyone hyped it up and made it sound like it was a fantastic book with disability. And while the disability rep was pretty well done, I feel the rest of the book suffered. It was okay, but just not as good as I thought it would have been.

Consumed (Firefighters #1) by J.R. Ward: I feel very alone with this one. I’ve really enjoyed J.R. Ward books in the past. Really enjoyed her books. I actually really enjoyed the novellas for this series. But this one wasn’t for me. I could see the potential, but nearly everything fell flat for me. I didn’t like the romance, the plot. The characters were okay. But honestly, I’m so sad that I could not like it.

Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi: I truly wanted to like this one. The hype for this was strong. But I really didn’t like it. The first half of the novel was weak for me. I didn’t like it at all. I pushed on reading and enjoyed the second half. But I do feel that it was overrated?

I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios: When this first came out there was so much hype for it and I hated it. It was a 2 star for me. On paper, this is my type of book. It sounded like the perfect book for me. But I just didn’t’ like anything. It has such a high rating and I don’t understand why. Everything was just flat for me.

Paper Princess (The Royals #1) by Erin Watt: So many people I know love this series, and I really didn’t. I’ve really enjoyed the authors solo books, but all the books they do together, I can’t. This series is highly overrated. I just don’t get it. It’s full of very unhealthy relationships and I could not get into it.

Cheater (Curious Liaisons #1) by Rachel Van Dyken: This is another one that I really don’t understand the hype. It’s just so confusing as to how this has such a high rating. I did read it a couple of years ago when I wasn’t really into romance, but I think even if I read it today I would feel the same out this one. I’m hoping to read another Rachel Van Dyken book soon and hopefully, I will like it more.

Caraval (Caraval #1) by Ste phanie Garber: I really wished I understood everyone’s love for this series. I read the first book and I could not get into it at all. The world was interesting, but the characters and the plot were not for me. I didn’t hate the book, but I’m confused as to why it’s so hyped.

And that is some of the books that I think are overrated. Do we feel the same about any books on this list? Do you love any books on this list? Let’s Chat!

My Favourite Underrated Books

Jun 8, 2020

Today I thought I would share some of my favourite books that I think are underrated. These are the books that I think don’t get enough love. That I think deserve more love. I’ve tried to include a range of books here from different genres. As well as readership and publication date.

And they all have one thing in common, they deserve to be read and loved by more people. I’m pretty lucky and I’m a bookseller. I can recommend all these books to customers, I can share my love for them that way. But I also get to share my love for books that I think are underrated here. So here we go, like always these are in no order.

This is How We Change the Ending by Vikki Wakefield: I cannot stop recommending this book. Not only is it one of my favourite books I’ve read this year, but I also think one of my favourite #LoveOzYA books I’ve read. It’s fantastic and brilliant. It’s a poignant coming of age story that captures the lives of those that struggle day by day. That tries to make the best of what they have. Check out my f ull review for more

Bringing Down the Duke (A League of Extraordinary Women #1) by Evie Dunmore: I haven’t seen a lot of love for this one, especially in the romance world. But gosh does it deserve it. It was fun and entertaining, while also being heartbreaking and challenging. The romance between Annabell and Sebastian was swoon-worthy and exactly what I want from my historical romances

Great and Precious Things by Rebecca Yarros: I think a lot of you now will know how much I love reading Rebecca Yarros books and her latest one was just as fantastic. It’s heartbreaking, beautiful and just so good. It explores the notion of guilt and grief, as well as a fresh start. The romance in this one is so perfect, it’s a friend to lovers, to absolutely perfect. If you are looking for a romance that is haunting, but also beautiful, then this is for you. Full Review

Dear Martin (Dear Martin #1) by Nic Stone: This one may surprise a lot of you, but I think it’s very highly overrated. When it first came out there was some hype about it, but I feel that it faded just as quick. But this book needs to be read. It needs to be understood. And it needs to be loved. I just finished it early in this week and gosh I wish I had read it even earlier. It’s fantastic.

And I Darken (The Conqueror’s Saga #1) by Kiersten White: This is one of my favourite series of all time and I feel that it isn’t read enough! It’s a fantastic genre-switch historical fiction about Vlad the Impaler! Come on. Doesn’t what sounds fantastic? It’s such a well thought out series and is so underrated.

When Michael Met Mina by Randa Abdel-Fattah: If you haven’t read this book, please do. I know I talk about it a lot, but I think it’s something that needs to be read by everyone. It’s such a fantastic novel that looks into race and asylum seekers.

The Yearbook Committee by Sarah Ayoub: Another #LoveOzYA that is simply brilliant. If you haven’t check out the why I love Aussie YA so much please do. And this one is such a great read. It explores coming of age, and it will tear you apart over and over again. So have that in mind.

Trust by Kylie Scott: I wish more people would read this one. It’s one of my favourite Kylie Scott and has a plus-size female protagonist. It’s a refreshing YA contemporary that I enjoyed. And it’s underrated. The romance was so great and I just want more YA romances like this.

Every Breath (Every #1) by Ellie Marney: I could not do this list and not mention something from Ellie Marney. Seriously, if you haven’t picked anything up from her please, please do. They are fantastic. And she has a new book coming out this year!

The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers: I bring this book up every once and a while, but I have to talk about it again. This is such a good YA mystery/thriller. It’s intense and different and that is why I like it so much. But not many people have read it. It’s a great book for someone that wants to try and the thriller genre but isn’t sure how they feel about it.

And that is it for this post! What are some of the books that you think are underrated? Do we share any that is the same? What underrated book do you think I should read? Let’s Chat!

Should I Read This Book?

May 31, 2020

You know those books that you want to read, but you aren’t really sure about. Those books that have mixed reviews that don’t really help with your decision. I have a lot of them. A lot that I own and a lot that I want to get. But I’m still not sure. So today I thought I should get some help. Some help from my lovely readers.

Today I’m sharing books that I can’t decide if I should read them. There are many reasons that this happens. Some of the books I own, some I haven’t bought yet. But I want to see what you all think of them before I do either. So I would love to hear your thoughts on the books in this post. Did you like it or not? What were your thoughts – anything really. Help me decided if I should read it or not. Like always these are no order.

Spark (Spark #1) by Rachael Craw: This has been on my TBR for some time now. I do own the first book and its one that I always just nearly pick up. But I never do. Some people love this series and some people don’t. It’s a mixed bag that I see. Plus it’s a little older now and I really don’t know. It sounds like something I would enjoy.

Thicker Than Water by Brigid Kemmerer: I don’t know why I haven’t read this one yet. I really don’t know. I love Brigid Kemmerer’s work. A lot! I’ve read nearly everything that she has written now. But not this one. Which sounds stupid because I love romance. What did you guys think of this one?

The Way to Game the Walk of Shame by Jenn P. Nguyen: This book has been on my TBR a long time. From 2016 to be precise. But I’ve never bought it. Again it’s got a lot of mixed reviews, yet it seems like something that I would enjoy. Should I pick it up? What did you think of this one?

Ninth House (Alex Stern #1) by Leigh Bardugo: I’ve been very hesitant about picking this one up. Adult fantasy isn’t really my thing. I’ve tried a couple here and there and liked them enough, but haven’t loved them. The reasons why this is still on my tbr is because it’s by Leigh Bardugo. I love what Leigh has written before.

Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom: This has been on my tbr since I read A Tragic Kind of Wonderful and really enjoyed it. I always want to read books that represent disability, but I’m also always so nervous about the representation. Again I’ve heard a lot of mix reviews about this one.

The Kiss Quotient (The Kiss Quotient #1) by Helen Hoang: I’ve always hesitant about reading romance books that get a lot of traction from people that don’t read romance normally. I don’t know why, but it happens. Hence why this one has been on my tbr list for a while. I’m still not sure though. Help me out here.

Red Rising (Red Rising Saga #1) by Pierce Brown: This is a strange one for me. I started reading this a couple of years ago but put it down for some reasons. And I’ve yet to pick it up again. I remember enjoying what I did read. But science fiction isn’t really my jam and I get confused a lot. And I think that’s why I haven’t picked it up again.

From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata: This is another one that has been on my TBR for a couple of years now. In the last couple of months, I’ve read a few Mariana Zapata books, so I think I’m going to pick this one up soon. Have you read this one? What did you think?

Ziggy, Stardust and Me by James Brandon: This one caught my eye as soon as I read the synopsis. It sounds like something that I would love, but something is holding me back. People I know have loved it. So convince me.

And that is it for this post! What books should I read? What should I give up on? Are there books that you can’t decide if you should read? Let’s Chat!