Book blogging is absolutely excellent because you discover so many books! That you haven’t read! And will never have time for! Oh hello crushing weight of expectations!
No I’m not crying, that would be…someone else.
Look I complain about TBR piles a lot, and this is the part where I should apologise and promise to blog about something else soon but — HA! Surprise! I’m going to continue with the TBR Horror Theme™.
I just have to mention that before book blogging, I was like, “Eh, yeah I’ll read as many books as I possible can.” And now after book blogging, I’m like, “I MUST READ 9 x MORE BOOKS THAN I POSSIBLY CAN.”
I know some people don’t like that attitude, but eh. I want to eat and experience all the art I can in my puny lifespan. FIGHT ME, I’M NOT SORRY.
Now as much as I love blogging, it takes great pains to remind me of all the books I haven’t read. And today I want to (shamefully) list the POPULAR YA BOOKS I haven’t read yet.
When I started blogging 6 years ago, I actually sat down with lists of the most popular YA books and did my best to get through them (library willing, haha, I’m broke) but there are still??? So many famous books??? And I’m behind and need 78 lifespans to catch up???
translation: here are my weak excuses.
- I literally haven’t had the time. C’mon! I’m doing my best here and I actually had a slow start to YA since I didn’t even start reading it until I was 16. Some of us are late bloomers. I have no idea what I actually did from 13 to 16…ate the curtains and drew fantasy maps and shouted about dragons. So not much has changed except I read more YA.
- I’m not super interested in some??? Some famous YA books have me giving that awkward-teeth-clenched-smile of “Sure I’ll read it haha or maybe burn my left eyebrow off first.” Look it’s mostly the goopy-eyed ones that really don’t catch my attention, famous or not.
- I am attracted to shiny new things. I’m like a magpie and bowerbird and dragon all mashed into one tiny 5’1 foot human-pretending creature of the night. It’s very exhausting. Feed me cake. But I just really really REALLY like new books! Plus I’m super tired of a lot of the old tropes/cliches. Also newer books are more diverse, hello that’s what I want to read about.
- The hype is scary, ok. It is. You can’t look at me and say it’s not absolutely terrifying to read a famous book, hate it, and then find the fandom eaTING YOU ALIVE LIKE LITTLE PIRANHAS. I’m fragile and special. I can’t take disappointing people.
TOP TEN TUESDAY PROMPT: Books That Have Been On My TBR the Longest and I Still Haven’t Read
(Little creative license being taken here HA. But when have I followed the rules perfectly pfft.)
(Excuse the amount of eBook taken photos…I’m still on holidays at my sister’s house and therefore away from my bookshelf. #Suffering)
1. DELIRIUM BY LAUREN OLIVER
I actually own one of this trilogy that I snabbled at a library sale. Why? BECAUSE IT’S ORANGE, PEETA. And I needed orange books for my bookstagram. However I still haven’t read it.
WHY HAVEN’T I READ IT YET: There biggest reasons are probably that I’m wORN OUT by dystopian. I’m literally a super tired shoe that’s walked the dystopian road too long and just sat down thrown a small tantrum because: tired. And also I don’t own book 1 and that also seriously puts a damper on things.
WILL I READ IT SOON? Probably not. Yes, time for an awkward pause. But I will read it SOMEDAY!
2. VAMPIRE ACADEMY BY RICHELLE MEAD
This author is quite super famous, but I’ve not really followed her rise to the burning glory?! And I feel like the blogosphere doesn’t speak about her so much anyway?? Or maybe I just missed it while I hang out with the bloggers who talk excessively about cake. (BURN @ ME.)
WHY HAVEN’T I READ IT YET: Mostly because I read two other books by Richelle Mead (Soundless and The Glittering Court) and I found the first hella problematic and the second so dumb (the girl ran away from an arranged marriage to a contest for an…arranged…marriage. Right.) So it’s not inspired me to read more from her. Plus I’m not a huge fan of vampires.
WILL I READ IT SOON? I’m tempted to say “never” but we all know I’ll cave and try it ONE DAY.
3. SABRIEL BY GARTH NIX
I feell ike this might be more famous in Australia circles because look at that!! AUSSIE AUTHOR. Also this is so so so old…1996. Like I’m not even sure dinosaurs had completely died out by that point. And I know FOR SURE the toaster wasn’t invented.
WHY HAVEN’T I READ IT YET: I’m a little worried the oldness will equal a style I’m not super fond of. And I knoooow Shanti keeps quietly glaring at me for my failing here (I’M SORRY SHANTI, I STILL APPRECIATE YOU) I also don’t want to disappoint a friend’s recommendation! And, tragically, I forgot to read it before I moved and now I have no library.
WILL I READ IT SOON? Yes!! This year, I promise!! I will obtain it somehow!
4. ERAGON BY CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI
Okay confession: I tried to read it when I was about 15. And I sent it back to the library for some reason I can’t remember. Possibly because it was over 300 pages and I have the attention span of a gnat drowning in lasagna. However every blogger I meet (mostly on bookstagram but also Olive! Hi Olive! Sorry Olive!) who hears I like dragons, immediately says, “HOW DARE YOU HAVE NOT READ ERAGON”…like I know. I’m ashamed of me too.
WHY HAVEN’T I READ IT YET: It’s huge and I’m lazy. I even own it. Wow I have no excuse.
WILL I READ IT SOON? I’m actually not sure!??!? I’d like to say this year, but I’d also like to say I’m eating cheesecake right now. I am not, fyi.
5. ARTEMIS FOWL BY EOIN COLFER
Again! I could’ve sworn I read the beginning in my wayward youth and then sent it back to the library for rEASONS I DON’T REMEMBER. Possibly because I borrow like 3148 books at once and can’t read them all. So clever, Cait, so smart.
WHY HAVEN’T I READ IT YET: Actually I’m not sure I’ll like it anymore. I mean snarky genius thief SOUNDS like my kind of book, but I know it’s fairly youngishly-written??? I’m old and gnarly. Yesterday I ate soup for lunch and took a nap. I’m turning 83 for my next birthday.
WILL I READ IT SOON? I doubt it, since I don’t have a local library anymore and I wouldn’t buy it.
6. ALL THE BOOKS BY TAMORA PIERCE
I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to grow up reading these and I did not. Fail.
WHY HAVEN’T I READ IT YET: Firstly I don’t own them, although I’m sure I could online-library them if I got my brain together. But hahahah HAHAHA. Someone’s asking a lot. Secondly, like with Artemis Fowl, I’m concerned I’m too old! I like my fantasy bloody and I think this is more on the younger-teen side.
WILL I READ IT SOON? Noooo. I feel like this ship has possibly sailed and I’ll never get to them. Tell me if I’m making a huge mistake?!
7. HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD
I’m not even the world’s biggest Harry Potter fan…ugh I’m sorry. But I love love love the Hogwarts Houses and spend 87% of my life sorting things and people and boxes and dogs into Houses. But I didn’t grow up with the series and I think it just didn’t have the same magic for me? Don’t get me wrong! I still do like ti. But my ratings range from 3 stars to 5. Soooo.
WHY HAVEN’T I READ IT YET: It’s not even by JK Rowling! I mean! Plus so many people have said it’s ridiculous and reads like fanfic and do I need that spoilery milk in my life? I don’t think so, mate. Plus I’m very disenchanted with how Rowling is acting online. I wish she’d let Harry Potter go and write something else for kids… (YOU CAN’T CLAIM DIVERSITY UNLESS IT’S ON THE PAGE. THE END.)
WILL I READ IT SOON? I mean, I might read it one day??? If it fell in my lap for free ha.
8. ALL THE BOOKS BY SARAH DESSEN
I feel she’s this constant staple and popular YA author who has a lot of fans but is also a little bit lowkey?? Because I don’t hear anyway rave about her books now, but I do hear people speak fondly of them.
WHY HAVEN’T I READ IT YET: Actually fluffy contemporaries aren’t my thing. If the whole point of the book is a romance then my eyes glaze over and I’d rather eat a glazed donut. At least something glazed is good.
WILL I READ IT SOON? I definitely want to try at least ONE of her books. Someday!!
9. I AM NUMBER FOUR BY PITTICUS LORE
There’s a movie of this isn’t there? I feel like I did see it and it has aliens and the most cliche-white-surfer-dude-bro-blonde-guy ever and I just…eh.
WHY HAVEN’T I READ IT YET: I don’t own it AND it doesn’t actually interest me wow.
WILL I READ IT SOON? I want to read the first book at least because I feel bad for having seen the movie and not read the book. I’m just….I’m getting to it. Some of us are swamped.
10. CARVE THE MARK BY VERONICA ROTH
Back in the day, I REALLY loved Divergent! But I always thought the writing style was a little unemotional…but I still preordered this one because duh. Veronica Roth is so freaking famous.
WHY HAVEN’T I READ IT YET: Alright I haven’t been living under a rock. When it came out it was VERY controversial, with huge outrages and outcries in the book community for racism. I’d preordered so when I heard I was like: “Oh…well that’s a nope.” I also had it one photo and actually got hate email for owning it. So…I actually was scared to even try it. Plus I don’t want to hurt people if it’s a harmful book. But I did watch this vlog by Francina Simone (who is a POC vlogger) and wow and heck did she dismantle the accusations. So now I would like to try it. Cautiously?
WILL I READ IT SOON? I actually hope to read it this year buuuut I get distracted a lot AND I’m aware a lot of people have been harmed by it so I’m in no way ignoring that. But I really respect that vlogger and she had some very different opinions to everyone else. So soon???
Soooo, fantastic fail here, but I couldn’t for the LIFE OF ME figure out how to embed my quiz.
Usually I make quizzes with Playbuzz, but this time I did it through Buzzfeed because I wanted that checklist thingie. So you’ll just have to excuse me here and go follow the link to take the quiz and see how many popular YA books you’ve read! It’s just a list of 50 books and tick which ones you’ve read!
It’ll take you to a new window so be ye aware.
Take the quick checklist here.
And don’t forget to COME BAAAAACK and tell me what you scored!
do you tend to read popular books just to know what the fuss is about?? what are some super famous books you haven’t read yet?! (no shame here!) and if you did the quiz, how many books did you tick off as read???
(Also OBVIOUSLY there is no shame on this blog if you like popular YA books or not!! Be you, fine fiend. Let’s just chat.)
I read 38 of the ones in the checklist and got QUEEN READER OF ALL THE YA THINGS but I’m actually pretty surprised because I tend to not pick up YA? Especially for the last year I’ve been going towards NA and I STILL managed it? Whut?
Also, DON’T READ DELIRIUM. Like, no. Just don’t. Remove it from your TBR. The first book is kinda nice, the second a disappointment and the third is a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT. I hate that ending. I hate the way things progressed and ended up and I basically hate it all. Don’t read it.
Clearly you’re just MAGICALLY SUPERPOWERED.😂 I’m thinking Delirium is going to annoy me to death.😂 But at least the hardcovers are nice colours for my book photos?!😂
I got 40/50… which I think is pretty good tbh. I just read Sabriel last month and a suggestion: TRY THE AUDIOBOOK. I DNF’d it because it felt boring but the audiobook narrator is INCREDIBLE and it has very Cait-like dark, creepy vibes and a snarky talking cat (the second book has a sarcastic talking dog) and magic and just please. I have been converted by my sister. Help.
Here’s my thoughts on some of the books you mentioned:
Sarah Dessen: Saint Anything was good, but once you’ve read one you’ve kind of read them all. Nice but not amazing.
Artemis Fowl: It’s kind of young, but there’s snark and technology and magic and very clever plots, so you should try one book.
Delirium: Very dumb concept. Why did 13-year old me like this series?? Like, it’s just ridiculous. Kind of very similar to Matched, plus DUMB love triangles.
Alanna/tamora pierce: Not a huge fan but the second series (about Kel) is better imo.
I am Number Four: I mean… I think I read this book twice and liked it. But the library didn’t have the next books and I have no desire to go back.
I haven’t read most of the cassandra Clare books! Or Six of Crows (I know, I know, I MUST. Yet I haven’t. I blame the library), or anything Adam Silvera. I am terrible, yet have no regrets. Help.
That is totally pretty good! I should actually take that quiz and see what I get.😂 I know it’s probably biased to be the ones I remembered but I was googling for lists of famous books too haha. And omg the audiobook for Sabriel?! YES I WILL DO THAT, THAT’S SUCH A GOOD IDEA. Plus I love audiobooks so much. Total guaranteed success.
Ohhh I actually want to read Saint Anything a lot but I didn’t realise it was by her?! Duh Cait.😂 I just like the title, I have no clue what it’s about.
Oh but Delirium is going to tick me off then. I hated Matched eh. And that probably means I should read I Am Number Four at some point.😂
I blame the library for a lot of my reading deficiencies tbh. It’s a great thing to blame. I want to read The Darkest Mind series but they never have the first one!! So like: total blaming them.
You have made me want to listen to it now!
Most of the books on this list that I’ve read aren’t worth it. If you do pick up a Sarah Dessen though, make it one of her old works and make it Along for the ride.
I will take note of that and make sure I do!! I definitely want to try something by her EVENTUALLY.😂
I actually liked Vampire Academy so I recommend. Also give Cursed Child a try, it’s GREAT but it’s enjoyable. MY TBR SHALL BE THE DEATH OF ME
I should probably give Cursed Child a try because, ya know…it’s JK Rowling and the Harry Potter world here. 😂 I probably shouldn’t skip on that haha.
Technically it’s not written by Rowling, just approved. But still important knowledge to know ❤️
Cursed child in on my TBR pile, it creeping to the top I swear!
Definitely give it a try Rx
Ha…ha….I pretty much failed the quiz. I think I got four books–Divergent, The Fault in our Stars, The Giver and Cinder. YA isn’t really the sort of thing I usually read, I tend to prefer classics. So there are so many hyped novels I haven’t read! Like I never got past Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and I haven’t read all the Percy Jackson books. I did read Eragon, but DNFed Eldest because it was long and boring. There’s definitely a lot of YA I need to catch up on!
That’s fair if YA isn’t your thing!😂 There’s so much to read though, right?!
…I liked The Cursed Child. 🙁
I got “Oh Wow You Still Have Lots of Reading To Do” which I think means I’d read less than ten of the books on the list. I read what I want. *Puts on sunglasses and swerves off into the sunset*
My quiz was VERY salty at everyone wasn’t it.😂😂 SORRY. *sends cake to make it up*
I feel like maybe my comment didn’t come across in joking way it was meant (sorry), but I will take your cake. 😛
Don’t read Eragon! It is like a rip off of everything Anne McCaffrey wrote plus written badly. If you love dragons don’t do this to yourself. I saw the movie and read the book and was SO angry because it was too much like her books and I felt it was over hyped.
The movie was definitely awful haha.😂 I didn’t realise Anne McCaffery books were older though?
She wrote them ages ago. And she’s not alive anymore 🙁
I think (well I hope!) you’d love Eragon! It’s one of my all-time favourite series. I reread it just a few months ago. Whenever I read a dragon book I hope it’s like Eragon, but they rarely live up to that level of awesome.
I haven’t read any books by Tamora Pierce either, but I did pre-order Tempests and Slaughter. The cover is awesome and it sounds cool. 😀
I personally would never read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I saw the play and it was wonderful, but the *story* was the weakest part by far (kind of horrible – definitely ridiculous). And of course when you read the script you’re ONLY getting the story. The play is worth seeing though (but of course that’s more difficult to do!).
I tried Carve the Mark and I was honestly just bored straight away so I didn’t finish it.
Aww that makes me want to read Eragon officially now!! I mean how can I be a dragon lover and not have read it, right?! SHAME ON ME.😂
Oh so you CAN read the new Tamora Pierce book without having read the others?! Because I kind of want to do that but i wasn’t sure if it’d make sense haha.
And ugh yeah, I’m not a big fan of scripts either so I just am seeing very little point in trying Cursed Child by this point haha.
I got ‘your okay but could read more’ 😅 I can’t believe you haven’t read the cursed child! I do understand why though… I kinda wish I hadn’t. Being a bit paradoxical…. 😂
Haha I totally get that! I mean curiosity says I should read it buuuut I also don’t want to.😂
I got I still have lots of reading to do. I’ve read The Hate U Give, Miss Peregrine’s home for peculiar children, Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe, Harry Potter, and Illuminae
And I have, but have not read yet, The Raven Boys, The 5th Wave, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and Shadow and Bone.
To be fair I just got into this whole big reading thing late 2015. And I was already 26. I’ll be 29 in 4 days, i’m old…when it comes to YA anyway, though I do love some YA books! And I know age is nothing but a number, just being so late to the game I have a lot of catching up to do.
I don’t read books just to know what all the fuss is about, it does have to sound interesting to me personally. A lot of books do though so the hype just makes me more aware of them, which is great. However the hype has usually died before I get around to something.
Omgg but THE RAVEN BOYS, STEPHANIE. *flails wildly until you agree to read it* 😂😂 And I also really love Illumiane and Ari & Dante. Ugh there’s too many books to read and not enough time right?!😂
And yes I totally understand about catching up! I came into reading YA at about 17 so that’s not quite as late as you, but I still feel I missed out on reading a TON of books when I would’ve been at a better age to enjoy them?!
I’ve read two things on that list and NONE of the one’s you talk about in this post. Which given my reading taste isn’t at all surprising. Books I’ve read that are popular in mainstream circles are are actually newish equals about five. Well actually a few more than that since I gave into the the curiosity and read Harry Potter late last year and that’s supposedly seven books. And since I did like them in a way, I did try reading Cursed Child, but it’s a script and was boring me, so I stopped after two pages and told the library to have it back.
I’ve much rather read fun fanfiction like Anne Walsh’s Dangerverse. Which set of related universe gave be a book hangover and I haven’t been able to start new fiction my any other author. Which means a catch up on my non-fiction and writing, and thus is a good thing. Maybe I won’t fall into he black hole of fanfiction once again.
I don’t even like reading scripts sooo there’s like only a 4% chance I’ll read Cursed Child by this point.😂 MY BAD. Maybe if I library it at some point!?
I still need to read Carve the Mark as well, but was planning on reading it with the second book…possibly…if things go well! Lol! I loooove Vampire Academy though! I read that series while it was still new and fresh and waiting agonizingly for books to come out! It’s still one of my all time faves! Hope you decide to maybe read some of these someday soon!
Here’s my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
I’m glad you loved Vampire Academy!! I’m pretty much convinced I should at least try it now?!😂
I took the quiz and all I saw was “You’re OK” and forgot the number, BUT IT’S OK. I thought it was interesting how many of the books on the list I have A) Never given a crap about or B) Wondered why I wasted precious dragon time reading them. Sooooo many hyped books were stupid, pointless, and boring (and I’m including Harry Potter somewhere on that list). Or they’re meh (also Harry Potter). I dunno; can we have some originality in genres? Is that too hard?
Gee my quiz was salty wasn’t it?!😂😂 I think a lot of hyped books are epic though!! But some are definitely bleh.😂
xD I guess it was. Don’t get me wrong, books like Sky in the Deep and Caraval knocked me out from their awesomeness, and they were as good as the hype. But some aren’t. :/
OKAY CAIT, STRAP IN BECAUSE I HAVE SOME THINGS TO SAY.
First off, I adored VA. I mean … I don’t know what I’d think of it if I read it now, but that series was literally my LIFE when I was in early high school! (…but let’s not talk about the disgrace that was the movie OMG.)
SABRIEL, to this day, is one of my favorites, and I still re-read & love it. SO much. Also, Aussie author, which is awesome! I thought the characters & worldbuilding was super awesome, and pretty dark-ish at times (but in a good way?)
ALANNA has to be my all-time favorite from this list here. As to whether you’re too old — maybe? It’s hard to tell, because the books themselves move through a lot of time and while I DO think they appeal to a wide audience (in part bc of that), I don’t think if I’d love it as much if I read it at my age. (If I recall correctly, I was in Yr. 5/6-ish when I first devoured those books.) Also…they mention PERIODS. Which, fyi, I think was awesome, because I was at that sort of age and it made me feel… I don’t know… less alone, maybe? But I will legit read the Alanna Quartet at least once a year. <3
I AM LISTENING UP. I PROMISE.😂 And I kind of feel like I need to at least try VA!? Just in case I love it??!😂 And I’m just so ashamed I haven’t read Sabriel since it’s an aussie author and fairly famous…so like I’m definitely going to get the audio eventually and tackle this haha.
I just am so mad my childhood didn’t contain Tamora Pierce. I HAVE MISSED SO MUCH GREATNESS. I kind of want to read and just try…so long as I don’t disappoint everyone if I don’t love it. 🙈🙈
Hey we are in agreement on Harry Potter! I mean I LOVE it but my ratings are also all over the place (like I gave Chamber of Secrets and Half-Blood Prince 3 Stars, But Prisoner of Azkaban got 5). And I feel like having read your reviews I generally agree with you on them. Which…isn’t common for me because I was super late to the party on HP and while I like them THEY ARENT MY CHILDHOOD! Cursed Child definitely isn’t worth it. I read it and…blargh. ALSO AGREED ABOUT ROWLING. Like if you don’t have the diversity in the book you can’t claim it. Gee.
Awesome post and I enjoyed it muchly!
OMG WE ARE TWINS. *HI FIVES ENTHUSIASTICALLY* 😂 I mean there’s SO much to love, but they also could’ve been way better?! And tighter.😂 Book 5 is like a beast and why.😂
I have not read a single book you have listed here 😀 Nor do i have the intention to. #noregrets
Sometimes i feel like my time of reading Y/A has passed. Still enjoy some of them, but not overly crazy about most of them.
Aww noooo.😂 I don’t think i’ll ever grow out of YA but I do understand it doesn’t hold its appeal for everyone forever!!
I haven’t read any of the books you mentioned and I have no shame in that 😂 Although I miiiiight (and this is a big might) give Vampire Academy a try since I kind of feel obligated to read ALL THE VAMPIRE THINGS because I write about vampires.
I sometimes read super-popular books just to see what the fuss is about, but not very often because there are so many other things that I have to read, and I am a very loyal servant of Queen TBR.
I feel like I should at least TRY the Vampire Academy books too.😂 Someday?!? It’s not like my TBR is huge or going to crush me right now or anything…😂
This is what I got:
You got: Oh Wow You Still Have Lots of Reading To Do
Look you might be a YA fan but you’ve got some catching up to do for these hyped/popular books. Get busy, fiend.
To be honest, I don’t care about popular books which are hyped waaay to much (but that is just my opinion). Because mostly the popular books I read, were more or less a disappointment, so I read whatever I feel like at some moment.
That’s fair! Not every book is going to suit everyone right?!😂
I haven’t read that many popular books. For me the reason becomes if it’s super popular I tend to not like it (because it’s way overhyped) and there’s that interesting section right before it becomes super over hyped for me.
(For example I hated caraval but everyone seems to love that book so yeah) 😳
Also I haven’t read eragon or carve the mark either! I literally have checked both of them out from the library and returned them without reading because…much like you I take out 500 million books at a time and never get a chance to read them 😊😂
(I also got “mmm you’re doing ok but you could read more” 😊 So there’s that)
That’s fair! I mean we gotta read what we enjoy right?! I do like reading books before the hype because it makes me feel clever.😂 I read Red Rising (and was raving over it) before it was mega popular hahah. 😂
I’m trying to read more popular books this year and I’m actually reading Shadow and Bone to get some background before Six of Crows cause when I tried SoC they kept talking about Grisha and some sort of war and I jus couldn’t follow. I tried I Am Number Four but it was horribly mind numbing, cliché, and emotionless, and that’s coming from a guy who really loves sci-fi. I actually haven’t read the Hunger Games cause a) my older sister read it and didn’t like it so I feel I should take that b)the hype has really gone down since the movies ended and c) I’ve never met anyone who’s said “oh Hunger Games is the greatest book EVER!” So… I also feel some pressure to read Throne of Glass just cause it’s really popular. And I think I scored 6 on the quiz
I reeeally love the Grisha series so I hope you end up liking them!! I think SoC definitely makes more sense after the Shadow & Bone trilogy!
And I believe you about I Am Number Four because I felt that way about the movie ah haha. *hides*
But I reeally love the Hunger Games!! It got me into YA and blogging so <3 I owe a lot to it, but it's probably not the best book I've ever read.😂
I got into reading late, too. Last year in fact. So I haven’t read many of the backlist books. I HAVE been trying to catch up, but CAIT. THERE ARE SO. MANY,
Help.
I got “You’re Okaaaay But You Coooould Read More.” which is accurate. The turtle falling face first is actually me.
I feel the same about Harry Potter as you. I like Hogwarts and the Wizarding World, but that’s pretty much it. I haven’t even read Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets yet. Also, I’m starting Sabriel soon too. I can’t wait to see what you think of it, should you ever choose to read it.
I read Carve the Mark when it came out, and WOW. The community tore it apart. Personally, I didn’t agree with most if any, of the accusations. My thoughts were along the lines of what Francina Simone says in her vlog. But I understand you not wanting to read it so far. I gave it a positive review when the rest of the world was burning it with salt, so I was fairly terrified.
I UNDERSTAND THE CATCH-UP FEELS, ALICE. It’s so hard omg, we need 989 more hours in the day honestly. And I’m glad I’m not alone with my Harry Potter feels then.😂Like I’m so fully obsessed with the Houses but I just…?? I wanted MORE from the books. And I think all the romances were horrible lmao.
Oh! I’m glad to hear you liked CtM too then! I really was horrified at the hate it got because I couldn’t believe Veronica Roth would be so awful!? But like then I saw Francina’s vlog and I really am shaking my head at the blogging community. Like who the heck even started the accusations if they have no standing then!?
Ive only read 14 on the list! But…ahem… I have a few more unread on my shelves…, I’ll get to… someday 🙂
We all need WAY more reading hours right?!😂
HAHAHAHA I TOOK THE QUIZ AND I’M BOTH PROUD AND ASHAMED TO SAY I’VE READ ONLY 5 BOOKS ON YOUR LIST. I know, I know it sucks. It made me realize how behind I am in my reading. But in my defense, books with so much hype are books I don’t like reading. That maybe makes me an oddball but I WANT TO BE UNIQUE (sometimes). I mean, do you get that feeling when everyone has read this certain book and you just lose interest in it because everyone has read it already? I just think, “hey, everybody has read this book, why not try something else?”
So yeah, this doesn’t mean that the hyped YA books are not in my TBR list because a lot of them are piled somewhere in the middle. Maybe I’ll read them someday. Or a hundred years later. I’m a vampire so I’ve got many centuries ahead of me still.
Popular books I haven’t read yet? THERE ARE A LOT. I haven’t read Divergent yet. My sister started reading it but she immediately returned it to the library. She says the writing is too dull hoho. Haven’t read LOTR too. It’s the pillar of fantasy books but when I started reading it, I allowed myself to to yawn six times then returned it to the library (sorry that seems to be a genetic trait). I still want to read it though because of its reputation. Haven’t read Mortal Instruments too but it’s in my TBR list. Those are just a few I can name. If I state them all we’ll be here forever.
One thought though: IT’S DEFINITELY FINE NOT TO READ CURSED CHILD. Me and my Potterhead friends make it a habit to rant about that book every once in a while. I enjoyed reading it a bit but it still seemed like a badly written fanfic to me. Sorry but my Potterhead soul will never accept Cursed Child as canon. Never. Also, I still love Jo despite of her snarky attitude on the Internet. Call that blind loyalty but that’s just who I am.
I MISSED YOUR BLOG POSTS! I know you probably said you can’t post too much this month—a sign that February will suck—so I’ll just chase dragons while you’re away. Enjoy whatever you’re doing now though. I’ll be patiently waiting here.
-R
SORRY I MEANT HUNGER GAMES NOT DIVERGENT. IT WAS THE HUNGER GAMES THAT MY SISTER RETURNED TO THE LIBRARY BECAUSE OF THE DULL WRITING. SORRY FOR THE MISTAKE. I’M GETTING SO OLD HELP ME.
That’s totally fair though!! We should read what we WANT to read.😂 And honestly most of my favourites are hidden gems anyway, buuuut I do love a ton of hyped books.😂
LOTR is just terrifying omg. I couldn’t even get through the second book, my mind was bleeding out my ears ugh ugh.
And I’m just going to skip Cursed Child probably. Everyone is telling me it’s so awful ahaha. And I actually read spoilers for all the “twists” anyway and they seem so dumb.😂
Aww YOU LOVELY BEAN, RAIN, THANK YOU!! I’m actually blogging like a sporadic cabbage right now just due to being away + trying to read so many library books + trying to answer comments + holding my new nephew baby SOOO YEAH.😂 I’m sorry this reply is so late!
It’s fine Cait. I understand your struggle. Hope you find more cakes to eat to make you feel better 😊
I forgot to put Eragon on my list. It was one of the first books I ever bought and I STILL haven’t read it!
I feel the same about Carve the Mark. I initially stayed away, but after researching more, I think I just need to read it to decide for myself.
I hope you get to all these soon! 🙂
I’m hoping to at least get to Carve the Mark this year! I mean I don’t want to invalidate people who were hurt, but I’m mind-boggled that the accusations of it being problematic could have no standing?!? Why…how does that even happen.
I always MEAN to read popular books to see what the fuss is about. I buy them and then they sit on my shelf for basically forever while I stare at them and do anything but read them. Also, in my humble opinion… Eragon is over-hyped. I really did not like Eragon. *hides under a rock* And Carve The Mark is kind of boring. *fades away into the mist*
It’s so hard to read them all though, too, right?! WE NEED MORE HOURS.😂 And I completely believe that Eragon is overhyped hahah. I mean I’ve bene “currently reading” it for like 9 years.😂
Honestly, Eragon is not worth it. It’s huge and it’s unwieldy and it’s semi-interesting if you ignore how freaking boring it is. I mean, a sixteen year old wrote it, which is impressive, but, uh…it kind of shows? If you want to read a dragon book Eragon isn’t really on the list of ones you should read.
And I haven’t read The Cursed Child, either! I’ve heard people love it when they see the play version but hate it when they read the book, and honestly, my respect for J. K. Rowling goes down every day so….I don’t know. I might just stick with the original seven, pretend that the author hasn’t supported both the casting of a known abuser and ignoring Dumbledore’s sexuality for Crimes of Grindwald. I don’t know.
Vampire Academy, though, I enjoyed! I enjoyed them less as they went on, but Rose is snarky and entertaining and it’s just a generally fun book.
I kind of feel like I should read Eragon just to SAY I have?! Is that terrible.😂 But omg when I think about what I wrote at 16, I also want to burn it and then bury myself in a cave forever, soooo…I can imagine it’d be hard to get really into it now. Especially since I’m such a fussy reader haha.
Ugh everything JK Rowling is currently doing is so…awful. I so hate how she’s claiming all this diversity tHAT’S NOT ON THE PAGE. That’s not how it works.
Vampire Academy! A series I really had zero interest in ever reading. Just didn’t sound like my thing. But I decided to go for it a few years ago and I ended up loving them, especially a couple of the books mid-series. They were my first reads by Richelle Mead and besides the spin off series and one of her adult series, I have not checked out any of her other books and I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews on those so I probably won’t. But I really did enjoy Vampire Academy and all the twists and turns she threw out there that actually surprised me. 🙂
Omg that makes me think I should definitely give them a try then. 🎉
I love your blog, occasionally I pop in and leave a comment these days because you inspire me <3
Today I am going to make a case for Tamora Pierce. The ship hasn't sailed. It never sailed. Why?
Timeless, Bad Ass Female protagonists. These books were probably 20 or so years ahead of their time. The characters make mistakes, have mature relationships and romances, experience loss and triumph. I read these when I was 'wee', stumbling on them at a bargain basement book store. My copies are now tattered (and two of them are signed, did I mention she is also fantastic to her fans?) and well loved….and I am actually re-reading one of the quartets now in preparation for the release of her new book. I am 32 and I still love them to pieces. I got my husband hooked on them. They are also super quick reads, as in you could probably tuck away the couple books in the space of an afternoon to get a feel for them. Love em or not, they are definitely worth giving a chance 😀
Aww thank you, Kristin!! That means so so much to me THANK YOU. 💕💕
And I need to read Tamora Pierce I KNOW. I can’t believe my childhood was missing it?! Like what on earth was I doing. Haha. And I think it’s awesome she’s got a new book coming out Can I read that without having read any others, do you think?
I think you could get away with it. The new book is actually a prequel of a character in the Immortals quartet (whose story I’ve always wanted to read) so you could read and enjoy without needing to know the back story or what happens. Actually it might up the enjoyment of the piece not knowing how it all turns out 😀
Sabriel is great, I definitely think you should read that some time. Lirael is actually my favourite of the series because SHE’S A LIBRARIAN and it’s great. Literally. That’s about 90% of the reason I love it. And I loved Artemis Fowl when I was like twelve or thirteen (but I would say some of the later books are a bit hit or miss — I find that Eoin Colfer is sometimes great and sometimes just… not), but I’m not sure how much I’d enjoy it if I read it for the first time now, because stylistically it’s… not the greatest? The plot is fantastic, though, and Holly Short is an iconic character and I love her.
I haven’t read most of the others, though. Well, I’ve read Eragon, but *shrug* I could take it or leave it to be honest. I loved it when I was ten, but that was a long time ago.
I just am scared I’ll be too old for Artemis Fowl and it won’t be dark enough?! MY CHILDHOOD WAS A FAILURE WITHOUT IT. But I have to at least try it because…yes.
I did okaaayyyy
I’ve read most of the slightly oldish popular YA books and series but not newer ones and then there are the ones I never plan to read.
Whoops.
#NotAshamed
#AlsoHowTheHellDoYouCatchUp?
It’s impossible to read everything right?! WE NEED 9+ MORE HOURS PER DAY.😂
Oh, is this confession time? If I confess, will I be forgiven of my YA TBR pile?
Confession: I’ve read very few super popular YA. I’m not sure why. Eragon was all the rage when I was a teenager, but I felt it was kind of meh and wasn’t interested (I read Lord of the Rings instead … you know, like a teenager does). I have read Harry Potter, but I refuse to read The Cursed Child because ugh. I’m a snob lol.
Actually, full disclosure, as long as we’re confessing sins, I’ve not read any books on this list. xD I don’t know what I was doing during my YA years, either. I guess looking for dragons to tame and unwitting knights I could kidnap. I read books like The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper (which I’ve been dying to re-read now that I’m an adult and all tainted and whatnot) and The Unicorn Chronicles. I don’t think it even occurred to me at that age that there were popular books that all the other kids were reading. Probably because I went to a small school and I was pretty much the only kid in my class of 100 that actually, like, read stuff.
I did buy The Book Thief last month to read this year, and I only just realized that The Giver was a series (which seems silly, considering I own and read the second book and never realized lol), so all hope is not lost! I might just catch up yet. (Ha, yeah, no, probably not).
Omg don’t even worry, I haven’t read so many as we’ve just established, so you’re in good company here.😂 And omg Cursed Child just seems like disappointing fanfic?! I’m not sure Il’l ever get there.😂
(HEY I LOVE THE DARK IS RISING!!)
And I never knew The Giver was a series for AGES and I had my old library buy the rest so I could finally fulfil all my childhood questions.😂
I lean more towards obscure books when it comes to reading. Ended up with 19/50 from the popular YA list. *clears throat* I can explain. No it’s too long. I can sum up. I didn’t seriously getting into tackling my TBR until I was in college or something like that. Even now that I’m a graduate, I still feel like I’m behind. But I’ve learned to be very picky with the books I pick up . Spontaneous decisions on reading material usually ends with an unfinished book or a 2/5-review. The main book from the list I still want to read is Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children. I’m more curious than anything.
I totally get that! I was the same, since I started getting into YA when I was practically finished being a teen.😂 But hey better late than never right?! And it’s fair to be picky when you don’t have a ton of time!!
The Cursed Child is one you can definitely miss. It’s not all bad (though it is mostly), but I’m sure the play is better.
ARTEMIS FREAKING FOWL. <3 My child. No pressure because I know you are a very busy human (or at least I know you're very busy), but also: ARTEMIS FREAKING FOWL!!!!! A+ 10/10 would recommend.
Yeeeah not sure about the “busy human” part. I mean BUSY CREATURE OF DARKNESS < -- yes. Yes I am.😂 My biggest problem is not having a great local library to try stuff out with now, buuut Artemis Fowl has go to be in the online libraries right?! I WILL TRY!!
I HAVE FAILED AS A VAMPIRE ACADEMY FAN, DAMN IT! It’s hands down one of my fav series ever. It’s not perfect, yet the story and characters are sooooo good. And the ship, man the feels! And the spin off is even better, because they gave me my OTP. But that’s also 12 books altogether, so I know you will never read it, lol.
I would probably never read Cursed Child. I haven’t heard a single good thing about it, and I willingly spoiled myself, and all the plot points make it seem like a badly written fanfiction. I am trying to think that the book never existed.
Oh you’ve got to try Sarah Dessen, Cait! Her books are not fluffy at all. She’s one of the very few authors whose contemporary books I read. Granted, her recent ones haven’t been that popular, but do check out some of the old ones. Lock and Key is my favourite, but I would also recommend This Lullaby and The Truth About Forever.
OMG I’M SO SORRY MISH.😂 I didn’t even actually realised you loved it so much?! Okay I will DEFINITELY read them now. I promise.😂
I actually read all the spoilers for Cursed Child too and they were so dumb…I mean that one with Voldemort?! Like what. I think it just sounds like really bad fanfic.😂
And I will definitely try Sarah Dessen!! Tons of people have said Lock and Key is the best so that’s probably where I should start?!
(i haven’t read any of those books you mentioned >.>)
and i’ve only read 10 out of those 50 on the quiz
you and I should sit in the corner of shame together XD
We can bring cake and have a shameful party here.😂😂
Oh, I think you’ll like Artemis Fowl. Most of the other books are okay, but I recently reread the entire series and it was pretty good.
I should try it!! I mean genius criminal kid!?? MY KINDA BOOK.
I tend to ignore popular books. I mean, they’re always checked out of the library anyway, so it’s just so much easier on me if I don’t worry my little head about them. I mean, I have nightmares about trying to get ahold of certain books in the Percy Jackson series because I got into before I realized it was popular.
Of your list … I was only able to check six boxes, though I kiiiinda cheated a bit with Artemis Fowl. I’ve read book … I think it was six? The time travel one. Quite a brilliant story of time travel. None of the other books interested me. Though I did also read a comic-book version of book 1. And I only juuuuuust got around to reading the first Harry Potter this year.
Aww, there are so so many good popular books!! I LOVE the Percy Jackson ones! I think hyped books can be amazing, although a lot of my top favourites are underrated hidden gems too.😂
Wow, I have only read 2-3 of the 10 books/series/authors that you listed in this post, namely Delirium, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I have read Eragon, the first book in the series, but not the other three books. I own all four books, but after many years haven’t gone back to them (I’d have to re-read the first book because obviously I can’t remember it. I really liked it at the time, but that was some time ago).
Like you I am kind of tired of dystopians and so haven’t picked any up in the past few years despite still having some on my TBR. I liked Delirium at the time, because I read it before I got tired of dystopians. Not sure how much I’d like it now.
I do have a few of the ones on your list (that I have not read yet), on my shelves! Others I’m not really interested in,
Sometimes I am scared of the hype and I wait for it to die down somewhat, before I read a book. There are lots of hyped books I haven’t read yet, such as The Hate U Give, The Raven Boys (I know, shame on me. It’s so hyped and I’m not quite sure what it will be like, so I can’t judge my mood very accurately), most of the Percy Jackson books.
I’m a mood reader, sometimes I’m just not in the mood for a certain book (I read the first Percy Jackson book but haven’t felt in the mood to read more of them). I’ve read the first 3 books in the Mortal Instruments series but also haven’t continued it.
Another reason why I haven’t read some hyped books, is that I prefer not to start a series until it is finished. I do buy the books if I think I’ll really like it, but I usually try to wait with actually reading the books until the series is completed. Because I can’t stand cliffhangers. Last year I started several series that I haven’t continued yet (such as Percy Jackson and The Mortal Instruments) and I don’t like to start too many series at once (because I might get confused then), so I’m reading more standalones lately. I haven’t felt like continuing some of those series I started, I haven’t felt in the mood yet! My mood can be so odd. But then 2 weeks ago I did find myself in the mood to continue this adult fantasy series (that is a re-read for me) and so I re-read book 2 of The Wheel of Time and really liked it. My mood is just so weird, I can’t really predict it! Just have to wait for the right moment :).
If I counted correctly, I’ve read 25 books in your quiz, out of 50 (and got ‘You’re Okaaaay But You Coooould Read More’). That’s not too bad, I thought I’d do worse! What would you get in your own quiz? (or did you write it in the post and I missed it?)
I hope your family is well :).
I forgot to say, I like diversity in books and have also been trying to focus on it more. I read a lot more books from the past few years, than those before it. Diversity is so important and a few days ago I ordered some YA diverse reads that you and other people have recommended to me. Also new shiny things distract me too :P.
I also much approve of every mention of food in this post (and other posts).
That’s a bit how I feel about Eragon too tbh. 😂 I mean I’m going to have to reread the first one (I must’ve read like 1/3 when I started it yeeears ago) and then the next books are HUGE. So it’s going to be a terrifying commitment to actually read them all haha. Anyway, I definitely am over dystopians unless it’s REALLY unique and I doubt Delirium will be that for me, since it’s quite old!
*whispers* pleeease read the Raven Boys someday!! IT IS THE BOOK OF MY HEART!! (No pressure.😂)
I do like to read series when they start buuuut it is a pain to have forgotten everything after like 3 years when the finale comes out or whatnot. That keeps coming back to bite me.
I actually can’t remember what I got on the quiz BUT buzzfeed deleted my account (like why?!? I didn’t do anything bad?!) so I can’t retake. *cries*
Hi Cait!
I haven’t read Delirium yet even though Oliver is one of my favorite authors ever. I do have the first two books of the trilogy and maybe I’ll read them when I’ll get Requiem. But I’m trying to buy the UK editions because they’re so much pretty than the others.
Vampire Academy is one of those series you really want to read but never do.
About Sarah Dessen’s books, she is my favorite YA author and her books are more dramatic than all about romance. Her stories usually touches family drama or even the typical teen issues. But I can assure you that they are always more deep than they look at first sight.
I read 20 books from the quizz, I got the turtle ♥
I reeeally like some of Lauren Oliver’s books!! Like her MG one was super cute and also Rooms and the one about the sisters which I cannot remember the title of for some reason.😂 So maybe I’ll get to Delirium someday?! The covers are excellent for bookstagram anyway hhaha.
Omg that makes me laugh about VA.😂
Oh but that actually makes me realise I NEED to read a Sarah Dessen book asap!
I’ve read the Vampire Academy series and enjoyed it, though I liked the Bloodlines series better. I took the quiz and apparently have a lot of reading to do! I think my score is so low because I tend to avoid books that have a lot of hype. That and I wait for most of a series (or the entire series) to be out before I read it so I can binge read it.
I’d say go ahead and read some Tamora Pierce if the mood strikes you. I haven’t been a teenager for a long time and I still enjoy reading YA, and I just recently read Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness quartet and liked it.
Here is my Top Ten Tuesday.
Honestly I totally understand being scared of the hype!😂I tend to read them though and I end up liking a lot?! Which is really good!! And I shall definitely try Tamora Pierce at SOME point, to at least say I have.😂
I got okay but could have read more (didn’t count the actual number), so I guess I don’t read as many hyped books as I thought! I prefer finding hidden gems anyway! I loved Artemis Fowl, but I was 14 when I read it, so more the target audience! I didn’t mind The Cursed Child, as long as you don’t consider it a direct sequel, it’s okay. Delirium I was never interested in, love-eww! I kind of lost interest in Veronica Roth after Allegiant. I’ve heard about Garth Nix, but never read any of his books. Eragorn is so ridiculously huge! After being burned by The Fault In Our Stars, I will never again read a hyped book just because everyone else loves it, if I’m not really interested. I’ve missed a lot of hyped books, The Hate U Give and Gentleman’s Guide are probably the most notable recent ones, as far as older ones go, I still haven’t read The Darkest Minds, An Ember In The Ashes, Miss Peregrines and loads more that I’ve probably totally forgotten about!
Hidden gems are SO GOOD though!! I think most of my most top favourite books are pretty underrated.😂 Except for the Raven Cycle ah hahha, but it was actually super underrated when I first started.
And omg Eragon is a TOME AND A HALF. I could use it as like a doorstopper. I’m a firm believer that books don’t need to be over 500 pages.😂
My score “You’re Okaaaay But You Coooould Read More.
You’ve read a fair bit but honestly there are a ton of hyped YA books out there you haven’t tried. Get along now.”
TRUTH. It’s just some books I’m not interested in? I’m terrible at picking up contemporaries, such as Wonder, and Everything, Everything and anything by John Green.
If I’m reading a contemporary I either want to connect to the character’s experience (ie, Fangirl) or be challenged, like with Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give.
Also, some covers just don’t grab me. Like Scythe and Shatter Me. And I’m so OVER dystopian.
Anyway, yeah, I’ve definitely not picked up some super popular books. Will I get to them? Of course! *liar detection activated*
And, yes! Francina Simone is the BEST. I LOVE her vlog and thought her review of Carve the Mark was super helpful. Still probably not reading it because I really, really didn’t like Divergent and Roth’s new book synopsis just doesn’t grab me.
Another confession: I’ve never liked Vampires, so skipped both Twilight and Vampire Academy. And I just heard about Sarah Dessen, so 38% chance I’ll check if the library has some of her books.
JK Rowling has been the BIGGEST disappointment lately. Write diversity on the page or don’t claim it. That is all.
PS. Your nephew is ADORABLE. 😍 (i know you didn’t post any pics on here, but his pics on insta stories are so cute!)
That’s faaaair! And honestly I’m not sure if I picked all the right hyped books for the quiz anyway haha.😂 And I do like contemporaries a LOT, but I like them to have darker themes (definitely Angie Thomas’ wins for that, and I found John Green’s new book to be A+ for it as well).
Honestly I’m a BIT worried I won’t like Carve the Mark anyway because often times sci-fi and I don’t get along.😂 But it boggles my mind that it got basically massacred online for racism and several POC bloggers I’ve heard of said it absolutely doesn’t. So what on earth happened there?! Sometimes people are so weird.
(And ugh I hate how JK Rowling keeps claiming diversity that isn’t on page. It just means that if diversity wasn’t “trendy” [not that it is! but I’m guessing that’s how she sees it] now she wouldn’t even have spoken up. *eye roll*)
I got 16, and I’m not sure if that’s more or less than I was expecting?? I’ve come to the realisation that I have a bit of a fear when it comes to reading YA books – they become so popular and hyped that I’m afraid of reading the book and it not living up to my expectations. I think I just like reading ‘safe’ books that I know I’ll like than live on the edge and risk disappointment 😂
We should all definitely read what we WANT!! That’s important too.😂
Delirium was an absolute pain in the butt to read honestly. Vampire Academy was okay at the time I read it when I was a very smol bean but I probably won’t enjoy it now much to my co-blogger’s dismay (CAIT, SHE’S GOING TO DISOWN IF SHE HEARS ABOUT THIS).
Also 80% of the books on here I haven’t read either but they’re either on my TBR, banished, or considered to be banished. (And I do agree – we tend to grow more reading wings when we start book blogging – READ ALL THE BOOKS. TURN FROM BABY BOOK DRAGON TO HUGE BOOK DRAGON.)
I’LL KEEP YOUR SECRETS, SOPHIA, I’M REALLY NIC ELIKE THAT.😂 But I honestly feel like I might’ve outgrown a lot of these?! Like Delirium probably wouldn’t been My Thing back when I was doing a dystopian binge when I was 17…but now? Not so much.😂
You should totally read Artemis Fowl!!! It’s so, so good, it’s one of my favourite series! The humour is just on point. 😂(Actually I thought the last few books in the series were better than the first, idk. ) Tho you’re right, they’re more middle-grade than YA.
I read I Am Number Four when I was about 12 and I really liked it, but then the series became waaay too long and complicated (plus the having to wait over a year for each book to come out, I totally lost the thread of the story).
I got Carve the Mark as a present for my birthday and I’d heard it was controversial, but I still want to read it and see what I think of it… Plus I loved Divergent
So if I do try Artemis Fowl I should definitely keeping going because they get better then?! I shall put that on the to-do list. 😂 (And I also loved Divergent!)
even though I am a harry potter fan, I would never read ‘the cursed child’ because it’s not a novel and it’s not about harry and I think it’s absurd how much people want books set in harry potter world & that they’re desperate enough to read anything harry potter-related even if it have nothing to do with harry potter. the series is just fine, no need add any more.
I’ve only read 5 books on the popular ya list and only 4 of them I actually like. I think popularity is nothing if a reader hates the book.
have a lovely day.
That’s totally how I feel too!! And I mean it’s not even written by JK Rowling?! So how is it canon!?
OMG can I join the ranks of people screaming at you to read Sabriel? It’s phenomenal. <3
I've read 20 books on the checklist, which was actually more than I expected. I feel like I'm hopelessly out of date with the YA scene. D:
I WILL READ IT!! I WILL!! I PROMISE!!😂
AHHHH, I would so so so highly recommend Tamora Pierce–she is so full of magic, wonderful characters, and smart writing. I also looove Sabriel and I don’t find the writing “old” or anything like that, I know what you mean. And Eragon because yes dragons! And also I love the depictions of the elves.
Ohh this is good news all around! So I should definitely just read them ALL.😂 Because fantasy is amazing hahah.
i read, honestly, most popular books?? b/c i’m like, if so many people like this it must be good!!! and then it isn’t. but perseverance.
but i haven’t read most of the ones you listed!! except vampire academy (what i would call my “guilty pleasure” if i felt guilty about liking anything) and sarah dessen (who i’m doing a huge reread of rn).
my result was “Hello You Voracious Bookworm!” which is fun!!!
YAS you are a voracious bookworm! And honestly I kind of do want to read VA now because so many people have said it’s just a lot of fun. And like, that’s what I’m here for.😂
Took the quiz and I have read only ten out of the books on the list. 😭😭I tend to be wary of hyped books cause I get so disappointed when the book doesnt live up to its hype. I tend to go for lesser known books and when I discover great ones it feels like I discovered some great treasure. Lol.
Ahem Cait how do you make your posts so fun to read. I’m coming to steal your brain
I must have that power
I totally get being wary of hyped books too though.😂YOU’RE NOT ALONE! I tend to love the more obscure ones the best too, although I kind of dream of writing a hyped book so like we’ll see?!
And omg don’t steal my brain. You’ll discover it mostly thinks about cake and dragons.😂
I read 7 out of 50 hyped books. 7!!!!!! D: Oh well, that’s more than I expected to check off. XD
Seven is still good!! I did list a lot of them there.😂
Well” I’m doing OKAYYYYYY but need to do better” is my reuslt ://///////// –> this is me right now in case you were wondering! A lot of the books on that list I DO want to read but book like twilight not even the hype will lead to me to that because it’s not my type of book so?? I think hype gets to me but that depends if I have money or my library has it.
AND EW THE CURSED CHILD DON PUT URSELF THROUGH THAT IT WAS HORRIBLE AND NOT NEARLY AS MAGICAL AS HP AND PLS THERE ARE SO MANY BETTER BOOKS IN THE WORLD!! JFkjDSKDN emmmEmurrmrm i personally didn’t find Carve the Mark racist but I am aware of the other topics that people have talked about but if u wanna read it then go read it! Its REALLY SLOW, the whole book? But I quite enjoyed it to be honest. anywhooos i have way too many opinions i haven’t read any of the 9 books on the list but ehhhh im just gonna read whatever (THIS COMMENT IS SUCH A MESS IM TIRED IM SORRY)
MY QUIZ IS SO MEAN ISN’T IT.😂 *sends you cake to make it better* But like I totally get that about the older ones not being interesting now. I read Twilight just to say I did, but I doubt I’d try it now if I hadn’t read it.😂YA just can do sooo much better lmao.
Ugh I just probably won’t even attempt Cursed Child.
And I did hear about how Carve the Mark was “pro self harm” but I hugely doubt that too, so I guess I need to read it just to find out?? I know authors can have the best intentions and still suck (I’m sure I’m going to at some stage *howls distressedly*) but I’m more concerned I’ll be bored because it’s huge and I don’t really love sci-fi that much anyway ah haha.😂
“You’re Okaaaay But You Coooould Read More. You’ve read a fair bit but honestly there are a ton of hyped YA books out there you haven’t tried. Get along now.” (20) Well, excuse me, Cait! Honestly, though, I could have read all the books ever and there would still be more books I want to read. I even cheated slightly and marked off series I’ve like only half-read.
And I should get to Six of Crows. You’re not missing much with Cursed Child if I’m honest, especially if you’re not a huge Harry Potter fan. And Artemis Fowl was another big series of mine growing up. I also seem to have missed the Tamora Pierce boat, too.
I did enjoy Carve the Mark myself, but that’s all I am going to say on the subject.
Ah hahah.😂 Oh it’s fair to at least mark off the series you’ve started!😂 And the test is kind of biased because I did make it BUT OH WELL.😂 And I basically should just quit on even thinking about Cursed Child I think.😂
Duuude, you haven’t read ANY of Tamora Peirce’s books? That makes me so sad, haha. I admit, I didn’t get through ALL of them either, I wasn’t the hugest fan of Alanna, and my sister loved Daine way more than I did, but the Keladry, Protector of the Small arc was totally my jam. You are right though, I do think her early Tortall series does gear a little bit younger (I think I was 13/14 when I got super into it), so it might not be quite to your tastes now. Still, I feel like you should just TRY it….
I should try it!! I mean am I even living the fantasy-lover life if I haven’t read a Tamora Pierce book?!
Haha I got Hello You Voracious Bookworm (31/50)! I was so good about staying up to date when I first started seriously reading YA a few years ago but the recent releases in the last two years have fallen through the cracks of my TBR and my immense desire to reread ALL THE THINGS. It’s a serious problem (>5,000 and still growing; what is wrong with me). I seriously need to read Carve the Mark ASAP (but I’ve also heard horrible things about it too so maybe not…???).
Laura @BlueEyeBooks
THERE’S TOO MANY BOOKS AND NOT ENOUGH TIME…as cliche as that is to say.😂 (And yep that’s pretty much how I feel about Carve the Mark.😂Like if it’s horrible I don’t want to, but then some people swear the rumours aren’t even true so I just???? WHAT DO WE DO.)
CONFESSION – I haven’t read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child either! It’s just never been on the top of my TBR list to read a script, especially a Harry Potter one mainly not written by JK Rowling. Although I do actually have it on my bookshelf so should probably get round to it!
As always a lovely blog post x
Oh – thanks for commenting on my blog I FREAKED OUT when I saw the comment and it made my day, I’m such a huge fan so thank yooooooou x
I should probably get around to it too, just at least to say I’ve read it, right?!😂 But like…how is it even canon if JK didn’t write it herself? I’m so confused.😂
(Omg you’re most welcome!! Your blog is amazing!)
Cait! I’m with you. Goopy romance, nope. Also I got 18 on the quiz. Oops. But hey, at least I’ve read Eragon! 😂 Seriously, don’t bother with Cursed Child, it is not canon. But you have read the other Harry Potters, right? 😯 I mean, I didn’t grow up with them, either, but I 😍 them all the same. Now I’ve got to go catch up, because some of these are literally on my pile here.
You’re doing better than me then a hahahhah😂 I’m not even sure why I haven’t tried Eragon again, but THIS YEAR. This is the year. And yes I’ve read the other Harry Potters! I only finished them all like when I was 21.😂 Slow to the party again.
You’re never too old for Tamora Pierce! Seriously! I’m on a reread right now (I’m 26) and I just keep discovering deep things that younger-me totally missed. The Alanna series in particular has such a good discussion of periods and birth control – a friend of mine wrote a blog post about it if you’re interested: https://backroomwhispering.com/2016/02/11/tortall-emelan-and-birth-control-followup-to-tbt-xx/
Anyway, I’d love to see you blog about really any Tamora Pierce books, and plus, they’re (mostly) short and super fast.
THAT MAKES ME VERY HAPPY THEN BECAUSE I DO WANT TO TRY HER BOOKS! And hopefully I can find library copies or something so I can just binge read maybe?!
Yes! I’ve been finding them easy to get on overdrive recently (who knows where my hard copies even went…)
Noooooo!!! Tamora Pierce is my favorite!!! A new book of hers just came out today, and she’s still writing more in that world!! I HIGLY recommend…please? lol
I also doubt I will be reading the new Harry Potter book…
I will! I will! I have been convinced!! Can I read the new book of hers without having read any others?
You CAN, I think it would be pretty interesting to do it that way, but you will also miss little hints and callbacks to the earlier series. Also, you might not want to read Wild Magic et al. (The Immortals quartet) because they would spoil the future of the characters in the new series (The Numair Chronicles). Idk, I would be interested to hear your thoughts if you read it without the rest!
Girl if you were late to YA fiction, I don’t know what I am!! I started when I was 17…which has been about 6 months XD (as a result, I got “Oh Wow You Still Have A Lot Left to Read” which isn’t surprising. IN MY DEFENSE, BOOKS LIKE THE SCORPIO RACES (which I haven’t read anyhow but w/e) AND CARAVEL WEREN’T ON IT SO LIKE)
Ah hahah FAIR ENOUGH THOUGH! Like better late than never right?! And also I feel like I’ll never catch up so good luck to you.😂 (Omg…Caraval should’ve been on there. DUH CAIT.)
YES! I actually made the mistake of reading Twilight because I was like “What’s the big deal with this anyway? It doesn’t even sound good.” so i read it like two or three years ago and the first book wasn’t too bad (I mean Bella was dumber than a sack of hair and Edward wasn’t… even… a vampire…) so I read the second one and was absolutely disgusted and was on Team Bella Edward and Jacob Should All Just Jump Off A Cliff while I trudged through the whole series because I decided that it was best to suffer through it and know what NOT to do when writing. If Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey can get published and made into movies SO CAN I!
I really wanna read Eragon because…. well because Christopher Paolini is an extremely notable young author and I really want to what his writing was like at only fifteen and see how it stacks up against older authors and all that jazz. I wanna read all the John Green books mostly because he writes loves stories that end painfully aND IF THAT’S IS NOT ME I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS. I honestly WANT to like the Mortal Instruments but…. the first book (which I got for, like, two bucks) was a big letdown and really predictable and honestly Simon’s sass was the only reason I didn’t drop that book like a hot potato.
Jeez, I ticked off 18 books. 18 sounds like such a small number and I’ve heard of so many books on that list and I’m just sitting here with my Complete Collection Of Rick Riordan Works (Excluding the Kane Chronicles)(tm) and thinking “Hey, you know what would be great…. ANOTHER MAGNUS CHASE BOOK!” and as someone who loves YA and wants to write YA I feel a little… underacheived? BUT WHO DOESN’T WANT ANOTHER MAGNUS CHASE BOOK? that series was the bomb smh
Also, to convince you to read Artemis Fowl: While there isn’t a lot of murder (yes, I know quite a disappointment, but I highly doubt that Butler would allow young Arty to actually kill someone…. that’s his job), there’s a lot of conniving kid geniuses and fairies that are nothing like we’ve been told and a paranoid centaur (FOALY IS GREAT) and just…. even though it’s targeted towards young kids, I personally think it reads more like a YA (there are moments where it leans toward Middle Grade, but for the most part) and have enjoyed rereading the books again and again. Plus apparently the ending hurts. I don’t know. But endings that hurt are fun…. Sometimes.
THAT’S HOW I FELT ABOUT TWLIGHT TOO!! I read it just to *know* but it wasn’t half so bad as all the hate it got.😂 Dumb, yes, but not like ready for pitchforks and knives.😂
Honestly John Green’s books are fantastic! I know it’s a bit popular to hate on him and no one eVER seems to congratulate him (like I saw exactly zero of my friends even read Turtles All The Way Down and NO ONE tweeted a single thing that it was on the bestseller list >_>) but I think his characters are amazing!!
I loved Magnus Chase too!! I can’t believe so many people said he was too much like Percy Jackson! I thought he was so great.😂
Also that definitely convinces me to try Artemis Fowl.😂
I’ve read The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns, but I haven’t gotten around to any of his other ones yet and as much as I want to MY TBR JUST KEEPS GROWING AND I’M NEVER GONNA HAVE TIME
Magnus was nothing like Percy, save for the fact that he’d die to protect his friends (WHICH HE DID LOL HE BEAT YA PERC). But I love them both…. except maybe I like Magnus and the amazing ship that is Fierrochase a lil bit more.
Yay! It’s a great series and I really hope you enjoy it!
Grinning. I think I missed most of the teen hyped books as well. 🙂 Your comment about Tamora Pierce caught my attention, tho… I would like to recommend her Circle of Magic books (Sandry’s Book, Briar’s Book, Tris’ Book, Daja’s Book – though to be fair they are more middle grade? I think?)… and I really liked the Protector of the Small series (female training to be her country’s first female knight). And my favorites are a tie between The Immortals Quartet (shapeshifter girl Dane!!!) and Trickster’s Choice/Trickster’s Queen. I was not a huge fan of the Alanna series.
I took the quiz, btw, and I suck as a human bean reader.
I should at least try something by her, right?!? She’s so famous! I know there’s a new book of hers coming out this year so I’m wondering if that can be read as a standalone…
wOW, i pestered you enough and that got me mentioned, is that a compliment? I can’t decide. XD so whatever, but you gotta a least put a LITTLE more effort into getting around to starting eragon because trust me, YOU’LL LOVE IT.
artemis fowl is hyped? i’d never heard of it until i found a little paperback copy of it in a biiiiiiiiiig pile of pendragon books and i decided to read it because 1, it looks smol and lonely, and 2, one of the pendragons was missing. so i read it, and it was pretty good. 🙂
*starts laughing* my score on the quiz is so low its hilarious. literally, i think i checked less than ten things off that list of fifty. XD
Most crazily, ~Olive
p.s. my sister and i just finished watching season 6 of psych last night, and now we’re in the process of persuading our mom to let us watch at LEAST season 7, or just some of it, but mom doesn’t really want to because she says it all goes downhill from here. *sigh*
Psych does all go downhill from there! Go back to the beginning and watch season one again, lol. I recently watched the last season again and it’s really bad compared to the AMAZING first few! (*waves* I’m Lydia btw)
hello Lydia! thank you for the advice. 🙂
~Olive
IT’S A COMPLIMENT , OLIVE, I PROMISE!! YOU’RE WONDERFUL. 😂 And I’m absolutely going to read Eragon, juuuust watch. This year, I promise!! I feel like Artemis Fowl maybe WAS hyped but not so much anymore. (Isn’t there a movie coming out soon though?! I want to see it. Can that count as reading it…😂)
omg nooo Psych is amazing from beginning to end! I loved every season!!
😀
I’ve only read 12 of them! 😅 Lots of them are on my list though. For sometime. *and I like the turtle falling on its face, though poor thing*
*falls on face too because reading all the books is tough work* 😂😂
I haven’t read many, oops! I tend to not like most of the popular ones anyways.
That’s fair! I find I do like a ton of hyped books, so I’m lucky.😂
Haven’t read Delirium (never had the urge to and now I can’t because I hear it’s similar to a book I’m writing and I don’t want to accidentally copy anything). Read the 2nd half of the Vampire Academy books (yeah, I’m weird). Only read Eragon (gave up halfway through the sequel). Didn’t finish the Artemis Fowl series (don’t remember which book I stopped at). I’ve read a few Dessen novels, but not many. I haven’t read The Cursed Child, I Am Number Four, or Carve the Mark. I’d never heard of the others.
You’re doing pretty well then haha! I feel like I’ll never get to Delirium these days.😂 But at least I must try Eragon, since I’m so in love with dragons right?!
Hey Cait! Great post as always ☺️ I just wanted to say I think you should give Sarah Dessen’s books a try. I hadn’t read any of her books until last year and I was sceptical going in but the three books I did read were not at all what I was expecting. Yes, the romances were (mostly) fluffy but honestly they were no more fluffy than a Jenny Han novel (which I also love but for different reasons). The books also tackled some extremely tough issues and they were all a bit heartbreaking at times. My personal favourite was Once and for All but I also read Just Listen and The Truth about Forever.
Well I completely ADORE Jenny Han so that makes me want to try Sarah Dessen more!! I totally will!
I have read 2 of 50, oh well one day they will catch my eye.
Haha fair enough!! Not every book is for everyone right?!😂
So, funny story! Instead of top ten Tuesday this week, I did a “down the TBR hole” post, which is basically going through all of my old tbr-adds on goodreads and rethinking whether I want to read them or not. And one of those books on my list was a Sarah Dessen book! I’ve not read anything by her either, but I do feel like she is a somewhat popular author in the YA contemporary genre. One of my first 5 books ever added to goodreads was “Lock and Key” by her.
Okay, maybe it wasn’t a SUPER funny story… I’m sorry to disappoint. But I just had to share the amusing coincidence! XD
Omg we should both totally read a Sarah Dessen this year…at least just to say we have?!😂 Someone else told me that Lock and Key was her best one, so I do want to read it! ALSO HI FIVE FOR EPIC COINCIDENCES!
I have read all of these except Carve the Mark and Cursed Child (or at least the second half of it) and I’ve read 47 of the fifty books on your list. so I think I’m doing pretty well? Thanks for including Sabriel on this list lol, it really is excellent. It builds up s l o w l y though. I think I’ve read a lot of books just for popularities sake, but I’m trying to move away from that, partially because hype is scary, and partially because those books often don’t interest me for their own sake and I end up disappointed. I haven’t read Miss Peregrine, Red ueen, or The Darkest Place in the Forest.
READING QUEEN, ALL HAIL! (I mean hopefully the quiz/list/thingie wasn’t too inaccurate.😂 I was desperately trying to figure out which books were the most hyped haha.)
And I will read Sabriel!! Just for you. 😉 I saw Lireal in an op-shop the other day but it was kind of damaged so I didn’t get it.😂
I don’t really think you’re missing out on anything with Miss Peregrine’s or Red Queen.😂
Honestly speaking, many people started hating carve the mark even without giving it a try. If you did not want to support the author you could have got some free ebook online. And personally speaking, I am a POC and I didn’t find the book to racist or whatever the claims were. HOWEVER I found the book to be too slow and boring.
I’m SO confused about all the claims that it was racist!! Because you’re not the only POC I’ve heard say that, so how do these accusations even start?! It’s mind-boggling and I feel bad for the author because twitter basically set her book on fire but apparently it’s all lies?!
I have read 29! That is a pretty good number, right? You told me it was on Buzzfeed so I am going to say yes. I feel the same way about Carve the Mark- and I got a fancy free hardcover of it at ALA last year so… I will probably take the plunge one day. And I saw that same video, which actually make me feel a little better. Not dismissing others’ feelings or anything, just… less of a jerk for still being interested hah. I loved Delirium and Pandemonium, but then Requiem… ugh. Remember how we felt about the third Blood Red Road book? Yeah, THAT. I was thinking about Vampire Academy, but then I thought… no, I dont even really like vampires, so there you have it. Life is too short to worry about books you’re only moderately motivated to read, right?
*whispers* We should buddy-read Carve the Mark sometime or something.😂 Moral support. Ah hahaha. I mean, I don’t EVER want to invalidate other people’s feelings but when I saw Francina’s video and she’s like “it’s not racist” and I’m like…hOW DID THE DEBACLE EVEN START THEN. I also feel bad because Veronica Roth has like chronic pain which makes her a disabled author but she gets no respect still and that seems awful. (Leigh Bardugo has chronic pain and people respect that??) Anyway I’m probably making no sense. I’M JUST CONFUSED ABOUT THAT BOOOK SO MUCH.
Omggg consider me sworn off Delirium then.😂I’m STILL not over the ruining of Blood Red Road.
I have only read 5 of the books on that list. That doesn’t really surprise me since I’m not a huge YA fan (I don’t hate it by any means, I just typically gravitate toward adult fiction). I almost counted 6 since one of the books is currently checked out from my library and waiting to be read, but that’s cheating. I think.
I’m clearly out of the popular YA loop because I haven’t read any of the books/authors you mentioned. I’ve never actually read any Harry Potter books or seen any of the movies. (I know, crazy.)
I’m totally with you on the wanting to read more books than humanly possible thing, though. There are just so many books that sound amazing! Clearly I must read them all in a single year. 🙂
That’s totally fair! I mean YA is my life, but it’s obviously not going to suit everyone’s needs/tastes right?!😂
I haven’t seen the Harry Potter movies either, so you’re not too bad.😂
When I saw what the quiz was I went, “Oh man I’m about to feel bad that I haven’t read like any of them” but I actually did better than I expected, which was 6. I got some serious catching up to do! I also haven’t read any of the books on your top 10 list but they’re on my TBR. I just get bored easily and swing wildly between genres. I don’t really stick to just Adult or YA or Middle Grade, I just read whatever I’m feeling at the time. I do read a few famous books though to see what the fuss is about and I’m usually not disappointed.
Ah hahah, well do take the quiz with a grain of salt though.😂 Because who knows if I actually got the right books on there lmao. And hey that’s really awesome that you read so widely!
I only got 12, but honestly I wasn’t expecting much because I’m only now getting back into reading YA after awhile off and honestly the books I read never seem to get talked about much anyway. Plus I often dislike the hyped ones (like Divergent….hate with the fire of a thousand suns…less hate but still dislike for Maze Runner….likes 5th wave until the sequels ruined it….see?)
I Am Number Four is an awesome series imo. I lost my copies so need more so I can reread now that the last book(s?) are out.
I actually just finished reading 2/4 Sarah Dessen books I still own. This year I finally started flipping through one of her latest books I had bought and put aside and there was so much I HATED about the plot it soured me on her. So I started the reread to see if it was just that book or if I’d outgrown her. Turns out it’s a little of both. I still love the detail in her character building but I don’t LOVE the MCs so much anymore. I love that every single minuscule character is quirky. But I’m more inspired by her style than the stories themselves. I dunno. I’m like 33 now so maybe I’m just over coming of age stories. But I’m loving all the other YA I’ve been reading lately…. you should def read at least one book by her. I’d recommend This Lullaby. Although I had mixed feelings this time around, I feel like it’s an excellent example of what she does best and a good way for you to decide if you like her? (Honestly, it’s all about the quirky characters. The romance is secondary.)
I relate hahah.😂 Most of my very favourite books are completely underrated! I wonder if this is just because the majority of readers end up reading the same books (hence they become famous) orrrrr if we just somehow have obscure tastes that are only met by weird authors.😂 ANYWAY. And honestly I’m not a fan of most dystopians now. I love The Hunger Games (always will!!) and The Maze Runner too, but I think if I read Divergent now I’d be so unimpressed.😂
Hmm, I do like quirky but not TOO much quirky?! So I still should try a Sarah Dessen…sometime.😂
Hey, Cait! So, sorry but I did not do your fancy little checklist that you slaved over to make it just right; however, I hope you enjoy your imaginary cheesecake. 🙂 I have just been a little busy with school, but I still wanted to read your latest post. I hope that makes you, the dragon, not want to burn my house down.
Anyway, I really enjoyed reading on how you are a shameful reader. And, Cait, I have a confession: I cannot read every book in the world. Shun me if you must. Most of the books I end up not reading are usually the ones that get covered in dirt to be cast aside in a grave, which is where the hype dies, and the shiny new books with the hype bringing them to life stay away from me at all costs. I guess I can be called a hype vampire, a vampire who stays away from the hype. I have no idea if that made any sense, but you bring out my weird side. 😛 It was so nice to read that I am not the only one lacking in tbr-reading skills; however, at least, I can make a good cheesecake. Or at least I think so.
How DARE YOU not read every book in the world, Nicole!! HOW DARE YOU. 😂 Just kidding ah hahah. We need to find the fountain of youth, right?! That should help.😂
I’m with you on being scared of the hype. A lot of the time hype just really intimidates me or even puts me off a book. But, I did check 11 off on the quiz/list, so hey… that’s something, right? There were also quite a few on the list that are on my tbr or I’ve already started at some point. I often start something, think it’s a good book, but then just get a bit bored and put it aside for later. So there are a ton of books that I’ll get back to and finish someday. All in all, I’m not very good at reading popular books and I think my tastes are a little different than those in the majority of the YA community. (I find it hard to get into a lot of fantasy/sci-fi/dystopian, even though some of my favourite books are in those genres. The world building is just such an effort, and the pacing can often be a bit slow, I think)
It is something!😂 GO YOU! (I’m not sure how reliable my list is though haha.) I used to start books and then send them back to the library but I don’t do that so much anymore? I’m really obsessive about finishing things, buuuut we do have Eragon which I’ve been “currently reading” for about 9 years.😂
(I think YA fantasy needs a bit of work tbh.)
I’ve read 40 out of 50, and DNFed two or three of the others.
My take on your list of unread books is that you can keep on not reading all of them EXCEPT the Nix. Sabriel is awesome. Tamora Pierce is also good, but more MG than YA. But still good. I am Number Four and Eragon are pretty much trash. I DO NOT understand why Eragon was published, let alone became a thing. Sorry/not sorry. The rest are all fine, but not worth prioritizing over shiny new books.
Haha! I do want to read them though.😂 Well possibly not Delirium? And Eragon was so famous hahah, I mean, maybe because he was so young when he wrote it…(but that saying it never seemed hugely original to me).
I got 32. I read a lot of the popular ones when I got back into reading a few years ago, haha. But there are some I really have no interest in.
Vampire Academy was okay. I would like to pick up one of her series from before Vampire Academy because they sound more like my cup of tea than her recent works. I read Eragon and never picked up the rest. I decided to dnf the rest of the series. The only good thing was dragons?
I Am Number Four had an interesting plot but that is about it really. The first book was okay and then it went downhill. Artemis Fowl is really cute for the younger readers. I’m keeping my first two copies for my son and might someday pick up the third one from the library if I want a quick inbetween read. 🙂
I actually own the whole sabriel trilogy in Dutch. Very curious about it but I have so many series I still need to finish and I’m TRYING not to start too many series. *fails*
Haha same though! I mean I basically want to read ALL the books, but some I really blink at and think “Maaaaybe I should just pass.” 😂 Maybe I should read I Am Number Four then! I actually own the one with Ten in the title soooo…the collection starts.😂
(Good luck not trying to start too many series.😂 I FAIL AT THAT CONSTANTLY.)
I…..haven’t read many of these either! *starts to hang head in shame, then thinks better of it* And I totally stand in solidarity with you on Cursed Child. It sounds awful and not at all a good sequel and why didn’t she write it in the first place?!? My teenage self would be appalled, but JKR really just needs to let HP drift away. (She has an absolutely lovely detective series for adults though, 11/10 recommend!)
I know right?! If JK Rowling didn’t even WRITE IT then why is her name so huge on it?! That’s like the definition of fanfic. 😭
AHAHAHA omg I haven’t read any of these either except maybe Eragon a loooong time ago. I only remember the movie though and not the book… Oops. So don’t worry you’re not alone. And I feel you with the library problem omg. Mine doesn’t have any English YA except the super popular ones that… I do not… want… ahem. And I refuse to read in Dutch because English is better. ANYWAY.
I COULD get you Artemis Fowl if you want it. So let me know.
Also do NOT read Cursed Child. Ever. And I’m not fond of JKR either atm.
JKR needs to maybe stop writing in the HP world?! Leave it as is?! Yikes.
AGCKH libraries are so good! I wish I had a good one in my town. I miss this one sooo much since it used to be my hometown. 😭😭 I’m basically finishing a book and then picking up a new one SO YEAH.
Okay whoa, I haven’t read pretty much ALL the books on this list soooo *high five* ’cause YOU AIN’T ALONE.
I do have a Sarah Dessen book on my mental TBR, but who knows when I’ll actually pick it up, soooo *shrug*
And yes, oh my God, I feel like I complain about TBRs more than actually READING the books on my TBR. I’m horrible.
(P.S. I love your posts ahhhh!!)
Same thoooough?! If I read as much as I complained I probably wouldn’t have a TBR problem.😂
(Aww thank you!! That means a lot to me!!)
I`ve read 24/50 books mentioned in the quiz, ooops! Most of the times I am afraid of hypes YA series because I tend not to like them. That`s why I gave up on reading Vampire Academy. 10 years ago maybe, but now I want more from the books I read.
I feel like the hyped books of today are WAY better than the older hyped books.😂
High five about Cursed Child! I do plan on reading it this year, though.
Also, I scored 5/50…. uh…. uh…. yeah.
Ah hahah.😂 Well the quiz was probably a bit biased towards books I remember that are famous, SO TAKE IT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.
Oh my god, I love your blog!
I totally agree with you about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and JKR!
I tend to avoid hyped books and as of recently, I even try to avoid the YA genre or if I read it, I do so very selectively.
I haven’t read Carve the Mark because I don’t like Veronica Roth and find her style dry, to say the least. On top of that, I found that their powers are tightly linked to pain and pain and I aren’t the best of buddies XD
And I have 33 in the quiz 😀
Some popular books I haven’t read (but I want to) are Stalking Jack the Ripper, Hunted by Meagan Spooner and This Savage Song.
AWW THANK YOU! THAT MAKES ME VERY HAPPY!
and ugh I mean if the Cursed Child isn’t even written by JK what’s the point?!
That’s fair about Veronica Roth! No writer’s style is going to suit everyone, right?!
(Omg I really want to read Stalking Jack the Ripper…it should’ve gone on my quiz tbh.)
I love joining in on the hype of popular books, but I always forget to lower my expectations a little bit, because I don’t always adore it. Which disappoints me to no end and I quietly sneak off to Goodreads to rate the book lower than all of my friends.
I read Delirium ages ago, and even then when my standards were lower, I didn’t love it. I liked it all right, but you’re probably better off not wasting your time. x’D
I LOVE Tamora Pierce! Granted, I only ever got into one of her series (The Song of the Lioness), and I was but a child then (like . . . 11? 12?), but I devoured them. I don’t remember a ton from the books, but they were pretty quick to read and might be fun even now,
I’m shocked and pleasantly surprised to report that I’ve 35 books on your checklist.
It’s kind of terrifying sometimes to be the odd one out hahah. But I actually DO like a lot of hyped books which is a relief. (Except for Marie Lu books. I feel SO bad about it but it just never works out for me.) And I feel like you’re right about Delirium. I mean the premise already sounds irritating enough.😂
I’m so MAD I didn’t read Tamora Pierce when I was the right age for it!! I still want to try something though…
Same for Tamora Pierce! Or almost same, since I have read one of her books at this point, some 7 years after I first saw them in the library and thought they looks really cool. I’m honestly dishonoured* I didn’t read her books when I first saw them because I can tell that I would have been head over heels for them then. So now Tamora Pierce and I just have a ships-in-the-night, missed-opportunities relationship.
*I initially wrote “disappointed” but autocorrect wisely decided that I should have written “dishonoured,” and upon reflection I absolutely agree.
I’m dishonoured too then!!😂 I’m mad there’s so many books I missed out on reading when I was the right age for them gahhh.
I also disagree with the racism claim for Carve the Mark. They’re in space? And like, one race is a little barbaric but it’s not the same thing as current and past Earthen events?
The reviews I read said it was white people vs “barbaric” black people…and like that’s hella problematic, BUT THEN I’ve seen other people say both sides were mixed-race?!? So I’m very confused as to who’s even read the book now.
Whoo, I loved this! I took the quiz and apparently I got okay, but that I could read more; which is right on brand for me.
😂😂 I’m glad you liked it! I have no idea if I picked the right kind of books but google helped.😂
The Alanna Books by Tamora Piece didn’t age super well… I read them in middle school, then again just this past month. The first two were fun, if a little on the young side. The third read super racist… and the last just dragged. I’d read the first one just to say you did!
I believe you. 😭😭 Like I want to reread Narnia, which I grew up on, but I feel like I’m just going to hate them in retrospect. It’s so frustrating!
I haven’t read many either, like Vampire Academy or Mara Dyer (Dryer? haha). I have read three on your list though! Sabriel I really liked, but I liked the sequels more. And then I also read Delirium, but it wasn’t anything amazing or anything. I also read Artemis Fowl when I was like 5, and I did really really like it, but I don’t know what happened. I guess I just didn’t continue on with the series? Maybe I was so astonished that the main character was evil, that I just didn’t even continue? I’ve heard it gets so much better though.
Ooh that’s good to know about the Sabriel sequels!! I’ve heard I should try it on audio too so maybe I’ll do that.😂 And omg I’m still so mad for all the epic books I missed reading in my childhood and now I won’t appreciate.😂
I agree that Sarah Dessen is a low-key hyped author. I read one of her books a while ago and really liked it, although it was quite long. I need to get around to reading her other books.
I watched the I Am Number Four movie a while ago and I’m interested to see what the book series is like compared to it.
Unfortunately the link to the quiz says ‘Page Not Found’ when I click on it.
I feel like she’s everywhere and yet people don’t talk about her…at the same time?!😂 HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE I DON’T KNOW.
(ugh yes Buzzfeed just freaking deleted my quiz….)
For some reason I can’t find the checklist? :(( I haven’t read a lot of these either, I also picked up Artemis Fowl at one point when I was younger (and even bought the last book for an expensive $20NZD back in the day) but I just never finished the series and now I’m older and am no longer interested. I feel like the same applies for Eragon, I just never bothered to read them. But I am just like you and always issue 381296 library books and don’t get around to all of them.
When I first started reading YA Vampire Academy was one of my first reads which really booted me into the genre and I still really love it, but I’m unsure if current me would like it so much, if you know what I mean? As for all of Tamora Pierce’s books; I definitely think you’re making a mistake. I’d disagree about them being targeted at younger readers, maybe that is the case but I thought that there were plenty of adults, and in one of the series the main character is a woman in her twenties (if memory serves me right). Worth a try!
Buzzfeed just emailed to say they deleted my quiz. I’M SO MAD. I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING WRONG?!? It was a freaking book quiz!! how is that a violation!? Anyway…ahem. I’ll just be over here crying.
I feel like I’d be like that for Artemis Fowl. I’m so annoyed for all the kids books I’m too old for but would’ve LOVED back in my smol youth. So still try Tamora Pierce?! She’ll stay on the TBR!
You should read Eragon and Eldest, just for the dragon Saphira. The books lost steam and plot after that. The dragons are enough to keep a reader hooked 😉 The librarian at our school would stock a new series by ordering books out of order. So I’ve read book 3 or 4 in the Artemis Fowl series. The only thing I remember is thinking Artemis was like a mini Batman – more entertaining, less tortured.
Harry Potter and the Cursed child is a terrible trio of pain, betrayal and disappointment. Scorpius is the only good thing to come out of that book.
I am Number 4 has an underwhelming end. I dont know what happened there.
I admit I’m scared of hyped books, my quiz results confirm the same 😢.
I started the Raven boys this week. So far Adam, Maura and Ronan are my favorites. 🙂
I will!! I have read a little of Eragon, like I said, so I know the dragon is awesome.😂 But ohhh if Artemis Fowl is like Batman…WELL THEN.😂 I’m missing out.
So probably just skip Cursed Child and save myself the agony?😂
(AFJDSKALD THE RAVEN BOYS ARE MY LIFE. RONAN. <3)
The links wouldn’t work for me, but I’ve read Delirium, VA, and Eragon off this list. I actually hated VA and I’m very curious to see what you would think of it because I feel like you’d have an epic ranty review after reading it haha! Delirium was meh, the second book even more so. I never read the third. Eragon was actually really good, though! I enjoyed the first book, the second was okay – kinda slow, but the crazy ending made it worth it, and Brisingr…I don’t even want to talk about that book. It took me three months to get through the darn thing!
I really need to read The Cursed Child too! I have little interest in it, which is sad because HP duh. Sad face. Same with I am Number Four. I hope to get to Sabriel this year! Also I know what you mean about Carve the Mark, I’m afraid to even add it to my Goodreads due to backlash. Francina is awesome!!
Oh oh I want to read it just to rant.😂(WAIT THAT’S TERRIBLE OF ME BUT STILL FUN. AH HAHA. Ahem.) And I feel like I’ll not care about Delirium AT ALL and then it’ll ruin my bookstagram photos because I need to use it as my orange dammit.😂
Francina’s videos are a GIFT. I haven’t seen them all because they’re so long, but omg she’s so spot on and she isn’t afraid to call people out on their crap.😂 I love her!!
I can’t seem to find the quiz… Sooo…. Didn’t play that, but I suspect my score would be fairly low. I sort of cave in and read popular books just to see what all the fuss is about, but I’ve also had a lot of catching up to do, because I only really started reading YA about a year ago, and there is SO many popular books.
You’re right about Tamora Pierce’s books mostly being for a bit younger, but she has one series, the Beka Cooper trilogy that’s quite a lot darker, and meant for an older audience, and can be read independently of the others, and it might be worth a read. It’s pretty dark, with murder, and the spirits of the dead, and nice pleasant things like that. I think you would quite enjoy it. 😁
Also I love all her books, and will say whatever I can to make people read them. To tell the truth, they’re some of the few younger books I can read without being annoyed by their youngness. And wow, I just realized how long I’ve been talking about them now… I will stop now.
But you really should give Beka Cooper a try.
BUZZFEED DELETED IT. I’m crying. I don’t even know why but I just got emailed to say they deleted my account….I’m extremely unhappy. 🙁
Aaanyway. I think maybe I should try an older Tamora Pierce series theN?! I know she has a new book coming out this year…I wonder if I can start there.😂
I will second the recommendation that you try the Beka Cooper series by Tamora Pierce. I read her very first books (about Alanna) when i was 10, and rereading is mostly a nostalgia enjoyment, Beka Cooper was delightful and engaging as a new read at 41.
I haven’t read any of these books either, but I am curious about Sarah Dessen cause I don’t mind contemporary books 🙂 This spring I want to read more books like that. I have recently listened to my first Kasie West book and have written a review of it on my new book blog.
I truly enjoy Harry Potter cause the movies and first books came out when I was a teenager and I still love it, but this book that J.K Rowling doesn’t even have written I am not interested in at all, so that is a book I don’t think I ever will read. But as you wrote, if it fell on my knee for free… then maybe 🙂
I do like contemporary too haha I just…sometimes need more plot than fluff?! But I will definitely read a Dessen book at SOME point. (And totally right?! If Cursed Child isn’t even by JK Rowling then what’s the point…)
Don’t apologise, Cait! If you feel like sacrificing pieces of your soul on the full moon to read all the things, do what you want! 😃
You are attracted to shiny new things like dragons, I’m drawn to old things like krakens and that’s why, although I wasn’t a late bloomer, I’ve never read all those famous books. 😂 ( also I had a reading slump of thousands of days and yep, hype is crazy scary! )
Bookworms seem so tired of dystopian and I’m here like ” give them all to me! ” 🤣
Oh, just so you know, the link to the quiz is dead!
omggg that’s a long reading slump! But hey I’m glad you still like the dystopians! I’ll definitely give them all to you.😂
And Buzzfeed deleted my account so THAT was annoying grrr.
Don’t feel like you’re missing out on anything with the Cursed Child. I’m a BIG Harry Potter fan and I really disliked it. I’ve read fanfiction better than that. In fact if it was fanfiction, I’d be happier, because then it wouldn’t be canon. In saying that, the play is coming to Melbourne, so I’ll probably end up buying a ticket and taking a holiday there just to see how they make a stage play magical haha
I get how disappointing it’d be for huge HP fans…honestly I feel like maybe JK Rowling should stop writing in the series and just leave it be?!
Delirium: skip it! The first book was great (at the time), the rest not so much.
Vampire Academy: LOLOLOL
Sabriel: I loved this growing up but was bored by my audiobook reread a couple years ago.
Eragon: Blahhhh. Not worth it.
Artemis Fowl: Another one I loved growing up. I’m not sure if you’d enjoy it now without having loved it as a kid. But if you do read them, I’d at least recommend the audiobooks.
Tamora Pierce: READ READ READ READ. I still reread them every year, and my dad started them as an adult and has reread them practically as many times as I have. The series grow with the characters, so by the end they’re adults.
Cursed Child: 😂
Sarah Dessen: If you really want to read one, I’d recommend Saint Anything or The Truth About Forever. They’re not really *that* fluffy because they usually have a heavier theme.
I can’t find the quiz!
yea the quiz isn’t working for me it says it’s not there
Honestly I think Delirium will just annoy me so much.😂 I’ll just keep taking photos for my orange section of my rainbow and leave it at that hhahhh. (Shh that makes me not want to read Sabriel though.😂)
I feel like I’m too old to really care about Artemis Fowl? Like they’re all pitched as dark, but they’re practically MG, so how dark can it be ha.
I WILL READ TAMORA PIERCE!!
Also buzzfeed deleted my account, that’s why the quiz isn’t there…ergggrrr
Honestly, I still feel incredibly guilty for not having read Sabriel yet. Sorry, universe! Working on it!
We should make a pact to read it this year!!😂
i hate delirium and it took me two read to finally finished it… all the while dragging and complaining about it. i just think it’s very dry and boring and i’m just SO OVER DYSTOPIA pls make it stop. i really enjoyed vampire academy though, it’s very quick and just a series to be enjoyed 😀 i think her vampires series (va and bloodlines) are so much better than her recent releases. i also generally enjoyed sarah dessen books, but whenever i have a chance to read one i always choose another book because… contemporary ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Ah hhaha I understand! Sometimes I feel like fantasy over contemporaries.😂 But omg I’m thinking maybe just axe Delirium off my TBR?!? I think I’ll be so done with it before I even start.😂
I read Delirium ages ago and really enjoyed it! I know I liked the entire series, but I don’t remember the specifics. It’s one I intend to re-read. I have yet to read a Sarah Dessen book that I didn’t like. I’ve started reading Artemis Fowl to my son (I read the first few when I was younger, too). Let’s see… Vampire Academy, YES. I absolutely love those books. I’ve also read some of her others, but they do not compare to VA. Eragon I read in high school. I’ve been meaning to read the final book for years, but… *shrugs*
I really think enjoying a book depends on your mood as well as your age. There are some books I read years ago that I don’t think I would like as much if I read them now. There are also books I read now that I don’t think younger me would have enjoyed. I’m definitely a mood reader, too. It’s why I usually have 5 books at once that I navigate through. If I can’t put something down, then I know it’s a good one!
Do You Dog-ear?
Oh, and I read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child because I love all things HP, but it wasn’t as mind-blowing as I wanted it to be.
Funnily enough I just found a copy of the Curse dChild in an second hand store but it was in awful condition so I didn’t get it.😂😂 And hey that’s awesome that your son is old enough for you to pass on your book love too!! That’s so great!😂
And yes some books definitely don’t age as well as others.
The problem I have with books is that I put them off for so long that those books I pre-ordered because “omg this is going to be amazing!!” no longer even begins to entertain the notion of holding my attention. I’ve got rid of new books before because the thought of reading the now repulses me or I just think I don’t have the time, will not inclination.
HOWEVER.
I read to kill a mockingbird in highschool and I detested it. More than I detested Dolores Umbridge. 15-16 years later (when did I get so old?! *Weeps*), I reread it and I loved it. I’ve picked up books I’ve avoided for eons and suddenly they are the best bit of literature ever. Peer pressure (just say no kids) is such an influential factor in what I will read next. If all and sundry are telling me to read a particular book (Ready Player One for example) i am not going to read it out of principal. I’ll read things in my own time and they will be all the more awesome.
I also suffer from obsessive compulsive book buying disorder, so there’s that too.
Just don’t beat yourself up for not reading something, the time will come you just pick it up and devour it, and you won’t even think about it 🙂 x
AGH I hear you! I’ve done that too haha. Or else I wait for like 6 months in huge anticipation and when I finally get the book…I’m too busy obsessing over something else. 😂😂
Omg I really loved TKAM though.😂 I named my dog Atticus!
I wanted to give you the heads up that your RSS feed seems to be linking to some weird cache file of your site. You may want to check that out. Also, I’m of the same mind about that Cursed Child book. I bought it. I thought I wanted to read it, but I don’t think I do! Kinda crazy for a Harry Potter fan like me.
Also, you repeated “All the books” for Number 8. 🙂
Oh…I don’t know what’s going wrong, it looks fine to me.
You have some sort of plugin called WP-Rocket that’s serving up the cached files without the CSS instead of the live files. This is what I get when I come to your website via an outside link.
https://paperfury.com/wp-content/cache/wp-rocket/paperfury.com/what-bookworms-really-want//index.html_gzip
Yeah. I’d do some googling and look into why the plugin is not working correctly. 🙂
I have read all of Sarah Dessen’s books, as I discovered her when I was in middle school and have felt the need to keep up with her ever since. Sadly, the last few books she has written were super disappointing to me. I don’t know if it is just because I have gotten older, or if it is just that her books/writing hasn’t developed, or both…but I feel like all of her books follow the same basic story line/character build and they are all so cliche and predictable. She just changes the names and other little details but follows a basic checklist for her story ideas. If you’ve read one Sarah Dessen, you’ve practically read them all. Clearly, I’ve lost interest in her books but yet, I continue to read each new one as soon as it is released, never giving up hope that she will bring me something new. If you do get around to reading her, I would recommend trying Lock and Key as that one was probably my favorite and the most memorable for me.
Ohh I do get that feeling when you kind of outgrow an author.😭 It sucks but it definitely happens! And I guess after a while it’s hard to come up with fresh ideas?? I really want to try Saint Anything at least though! And I’ll definitely go for Lock and Key too!
I also haven’t read any of Sarah Dessen’s books. I feel the same way about fluffy books but maybe at some point I’ll read one of hers.
Fluff can be good!! But I need to be in the right mood haha.😂
I haven’t read Harry Potter and The Cursed Child for the exact same reasons. I haven’t read anything by Tamora Pierce yet either *shame shuffle*
Although I’m surprised you haven’t read the Artemis Fowl series yet, I would have thought it would right up your alley. Definitely, recommend the series.
No shuffled shames here. We’re aaaall together in our failings. 😂😂 And I feel like everything about Artemis Fowl DOES scream “Cait Book!” but I’m just not sure if it’ll be too light for me?!
Oh no, a light and happy book, whatever shall you do? 😀 Well, rest assured, the start of the book has Artimis’ s father as missing and his mother is… some kind of mentally ill (it’s never given a label), she’s completely lost touch with reality. That should be “dark” enough 🙂
The link isn’t work for me 🙁 Not sure why, it just says that the page can’t be found.
I’ve read Eragon and Cursed Child. I didn’t like either of them, so you should probably keep not reading them. 🙂
AH hhaha thanks for the tip then.😂 I probably won’t rush into them.😂
ARTEMIS FOWL IS SO GOOD. PLEASE READ IT. I OWN IT, I LOVE THE WHOLE SERIES.
I am one of those controversial people who actually liked the Cursed Child. I thought it was well-written and SCORPIUS IS SUCH A SMOL BEAN! Eragon is good too!
Omg here I am deciding NOT to read The Cursed Child and you’re making me want to.😂
I loved Vampire Academy so much back in the day because female friendships and swoony mentor! But true, it’s kind of disappeared from the blogging world. Low key thinking of removing my Inheritance cycle from the shelves because I don’t think I’ll read it.
I feel like no one really talks about Richelle Mead anymore?! Her new books are…not great though.😂I *might* still read VA when my TBR isn’t screaming at me. (Translation: in 80 years time.😂)
Welp the quiz expired but I do like the concept! Maybe if you make another one I’ll do it! But I still have yet to read almost all of these! I have read Sarah Dessen but not all of them! I recommend Dreamland (which is a more darker contemporary and there is a trigger warning for abuse) and Just Listen (which has music centered around it which I really enjoyed). And not all of them are about romance! So you should definitely try some! 😊
Buzzfeed deleted my quiz and I still don’t know why. 😭😂 But ANYWAY. I’m keen to try a Sarah Dessen at some point so yay, I’ll put Dreamland on my radar!
#7 it’s just not good…like at all. If you crave HP fanfiction go online because honestly those will be better. 😕
Ah ahha I believe you!😂 I probably will never get to it.
Hahahaha so many of these are on my list too! The ones I also have had on my TBR for 100000 years but haven’t read yet are:
– Vampire Academy
– Gabriel
– Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
– I am Number 4
– Carve the Mark
Uhh maybe we need some buddy reads to kick us into gear 😂
We totally should buddy read at least Carve the Mark right!?? I mean both of us keep saying we need to read it and the sequel is out soooo. 😂😂
Omg I just saw this! For some reason the email telling me you replied went into my spam folder?! But yes!! We should definitely buddy read carve the mark! I can read it whenever you’re ready!