Going into a book with zero expectations and then discovering it is THE BEST OF EVER? I love that.
And now I knoooow what you’re thinking as you settle down to read this post whilst unwrapping an obligatory cupcake because cake + my blog has just become a natural cliche these days — you’re thinking: “Okay, Cait, but I have questions. WHY even would you pick up a book in the first place if you thought you wouldn’t like it????”
It is a sensible question. And I will reward you with not-sensible answers.
- I have this ridiculous desire to just read all the books of ever. I’m also currently in search for immortality to achieve this. But if anyone is disagreeable enough to have even Death avoid them? It’d be me.
- I get sent a lot of unsolicited books for review. So, ya know, I want to give them a chance instead of being a cover-judging shrimp like I truly am inside.
- Someone
shouted at measked me to read it. And I’m either (a) terrified of them, or (b) like them a lot. So I read it. Good luck figuring out which it is if you’re shouting at me to read something. - What if I MISS OUT ON SOMETHING??? Truly my worst terror. So even if a YA book looks like the underside of a whale’s left tooth, I still want to try it. And I never said there was sense to be had in my brain. Between all the books I acquire and how many times my TBR has crushed me half to death: I have no sense or cents.
Obviously my logic is pretty flawed.
But you know what? I make the rules in my bookworm queendom. And this post PROVES that it’s not a bad thing to pick up books you’re not sure about, because sometimes they end up being the most delicious things you’ve snacked on. I don’t want to miss out on that! It’s almost as good as that feeling when you trip over a rock and fall headfirst down a goldmine and realise all your book-buying troubles are over because YOU’RE A MILLIONAIRE NOW AND BRING ON THE SPINNY LADDERS AND FLOOR-TO-CEILING BOOKSHELVES IN YOUR LIBRARY. * Good surprises are to be cherished.
A few weeks ago I did a post on 10 books I thought I’d love but instead I hated them. Which was coincidentally a Top Ten Tuesday prompt. So I am (a) doing the reverse of that prompt and (b) rebelling this week’s actual prompt which is telling everyone what you’re reading in Spring and hELLO I LIVE IN AUSTRALIA AND IT IS NOT SPRING. IT IS AUTUMN. Yesterday I even wore a sock because it was 29 degrees Celsius (84 Fahrenheit) and woah. Icy.
And also, mate, I do not know what I’m going to read in advance. That’s asking for way too much organisation and life commitment. I barely know what I’m reading when I’m actually reading it because I have the memory of a wayward piece of holey Swiss cheese.
So #REBEL time.
* Ah no I haven’t had this feeling yet. I’m pretty sure it’s coming though. Any day now????? I can feel it???
1. A GAME OF THRONES
WHY I THOUGHT I’D HATE IT: Well. I mean look at it. Those books are at least 800 pages long and that’s terrifying. Plus I hadn’t read a lot of adult epic fantasy before these because adulting is contagious and I don’t want to catch it.
WHY I WAS OH SO WONDERFULLY WRONG: Okay, I 100% ADMIT THESE BOOKS HAVE ISSUES. And I don’t recommend them to just anyone, haha, because the sex/violence levels. But they tell really good stories and have really good characters and there are epic dragons and badass queens and I’m glad I read them. Also I didn’t like happiness anyway so it’s totally okay * that all my favourites are dead.
* Totally not okay, GEORGE RR MARTIN, YOU MURDERER. [insert angry fist shaking here]
2. THE GRACES
WHY I THOUGHT I’D HATE IT: I saw a ton of low-starred reviews and also the cover looks like a packet of those seashell chocolates. Do I judge books from their covers? Heck yes.
WHY I WAS OH SO WONDERFULLY WRONG: It was really whimsical and ethereal and mysterious and VAGUELY MAGICAL and I quite enjoyed it! I would’ve enjoyed it more if the protagonist hadn’t been narrating. But you don’t get everything in life.
3. WHISPER TO ME
WHY I THOUGHT I’D HATE IT: Did I say something about cover judging? Ohhhhh look. HERE I GO AGAIN. But in my defence, the cover is (a) pastels which are against my violently rainbow aesthetic, and (b) reminds me of the cover of a book I hate, and (c) is just BORING. Plus no one was talking about it at all. Ever.
WHY I WAS OH SO WONDERFULLY WRONG: It’s actually a really beautiful but heartbreaking story about schizophrenia and anxiety and family. All the good books hurt you. A book isn’t doing its job if it’s not slowly stabbing you.
4. QUEENS OF GEEK
WHY I THOUGHT I’D HATE IT: Erm, well for starters, it’s pink. And it looks like a hairball tried to attack the font. And even though I knew it was about the fandom life…I just…I GET SCARED OKAY?!?!? So often fandom books are actually making fun of fans. And that’s dumb. If someone gets wildly excited about something they love, why are you scorning them, you grapefruit lowlife? Go snack on bitter lemon waffle by yourself.
WHY I WAS OH SO WONDERFULLY WRONG: Least to say I was soooo wrong. THIS BOOK IS SO CUTE. It underlines why the fandom life is EPIC — plus it has a fully beautifully diverse cast with good Autism rep, Asian bisexual protagonist, anxiety, and zombies. (Shhh, zombies are diverse.) Oh AND it’s full of the kind of bookworms who will lug a 7 book boxset series around ComicCon to get it signed.
5. SIX OF CROWS
WHY I THOUGHT I’D HATE IT: HAHAHAHAH LET’S ALL JUST LAUGH NOW. Because this series is indeed like one of my TOP obsessions. Right after Maggie Stiefvater and VE Schwab. But you know what my initial reaction was?
I WAS CONFUSED OKAY?? The blurb was like a roller coaster that went upside down and I wasn’t that into the Grisha books at that point. I believe my ship!!! was!!! sinking!!! at that time, and I was in a crummy mood.
WHY I WAS OH SO WONDERFULLY WRONG: Obviously I still tried it because HEISTS ARE MY FAVOURITE. And thank goodness I did because hello new #obsession. I adore Kaz. I LOVE KAZ. Kaz and his evil scheming face are everything. Also there’s waffles and sass, two of the most beautiful things in creation.
6. CARRY ON
WHY I THOUGHT I’D HATE IT: Am I the only one who skipped all the Baz/Snow fanfic parts in Fangirl? Anyone? Are those CRICKETS I HEAR? Because they didn’t make sense and I wasn’t interested. I was there for Cath!! So why would I want to read an entire book about Snow/Baz?????
WHY I WAS OH SO WONDERFULLY WRONG: Okay I totally would read an entire book about Snow/Baz because (a) Rainbow Rowell, and (b) everyone else was reading it SO I’M A LITTLE BIT PEER PRESSURED, OKAY.
It was adorable and magical, once you get passed the intro where it 100% rips of Harry Potter. But apart from that!! So adorable!! So magical!!
And I absolutely always start singing the Supernatural theme song when I see this cover. I can’t help it at this point. Carry oooon my WAYWARD sooooooooon.
7. RIDERS
WHY I THOUGHT I’D HATE IT: I didn’t like Under The Never Sky like…at all. But yet someone whispered “horsemen of the apocalypse” and I had two thoughts being mainly, (1) what if I still don’t like this, and (2) BUT HELL* CAN’T KEEP ME AWAY FROM THE FOUR HORSEMAN OF THE APOCALYPSE.
WHY I WAS OH SO WONDERFULLY WRONG: It was so fun!! It was like Supernatural in a book and fully of humour and stupid but adorkable boys and I basically love how it did the mythology twists. They fight demons, they ride flaming horses, they use magical weapons, they make very bad mistakes and break the universe. SO. MUCH. FUN.
Should you read it?
Ya. You should read it.
* See what I did there?!? PUNNY!!
8. THE IMPOSTOR QUEEN
WHY I THOUGHT I’D HATE IT: Again this is a case of “ooh but I didn’t like the author’s other book at all”. And yet, here I am. Reading more. I don’t even know either.
WHY I WAS OH SO WONDERFULLY WRONG: It’s like a dark YA version of Disney’s Frozen with TORTURE AND BLEEDING and it’s so good. I am about to read the sequel, actually! Except I’m writing this post for you instead. Aren’t I lovely??? Aren’t you so thankful??? *
* Spoiler: you are so thankful. I see it in your eyes.
9. CINDER
WHY I THOUGHT I’D HATE IT: Oh STOP JUDING ME. I read it back in 2013!! I WAS A MERE CHILD BACK THEN. I barely blogged and often I abandoned books at pg 1 if they were confusing. And for some reason the first sentence of Cinder left me going:
I literally looked like that. Short hair and ugly jacket and everything. It was an odd experience so I sent it back to the library.
Sometimes I look back at my life AND LAUGH AND LAUGH AND LAUGH.
WHY I WAS OH SO WONDERFULLY WRONG: Okay so obviously The Lunar Chronicles is the best and the books just get better and better. Thorne is a gift to humanity. And the sass is strong. And they’re beautiful and diverse and fun. Also it was my little sister who convinced me to give them a second chance, but shhhh, we won’t tell her that she was right and I was wrong. I CAN’T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT OKAY.
10. TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE
WHY I THOUGHT I’D HATE IT: It’s like a fluffy little contemporary!! C’mon!! I need dragons and blood and stabbing!! I am smol but yet fierce.
WHY I WAS OH SO WONDERFULLY WRONG: Apparently I’m absolute trash for an adorkable story about a girl who bakes and accidentally falls in love with a guy she was only pretending to be in love with. And they bake cupcakes together. And it’s stinkin’ adorable. And I’m actually ASHAMED OF MYSELF AND HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS BOOK. Like go sit down in a dark evil corner, Cait, and think about what you’ve become, reading all this fluff and happiness. Disgusting. Go destroy a planet or something.
I skipped those Simon parts in Fangirl too! I mean they were distracting me from the initial story and I want to know what happens to Cath and not these new beans??? I was not even sorry lol but I really really have to read Carry On now. Ungh so many books so little time. Plus Game Of Thrones? It seems like those books will crush me. And I have The Imposter Queen also even though I think Frozen is totally overrated. Plus the ending of the Grisha trilogy. NOPES JUST NOPES I AM DONE.
*hi fives* At least we’re not alone in our evil.😂 I mean, I just really didn’t care about them out of context?!? But IN context of a whole book they were great!! And I kind of want to reread Fangirl and see if the quotes are in both and see if like “Cath wrote Carry On”…because I wonder!! That’s so meta.😂
STILL MAD ABOUT HOW GRISHA TRILOGY ENDED. I must move on…but yet. No.😂
Wait. Wait. Wait. 29 degrees celsius is…considered cold…in Australia?!? It doesn’t get much higher than that over here. Honestly, 29 degrees and the roads to the beach will be PACKED. I mean, I knew it was hot over there, but this is sounding like the type of hot I try to avoid. :’)
I have Cinder, I just haven’t had time to read it yet. 🙁
Usually, if I think I’ll hate a book, it’s a coursebook, and, usually, they don’t turn out good so much as alright.
Nooo I WAS BEING SO SARCASTIC.😂😂 I’m sorry! I should’ve said that I was being silly ahhah. No, I’m just saying it’s Autumn but it’s still hot here. (Although it did get down to 22 this morning so I actually DID put on a jacket.) And we’ve had a stupidly hot summer…like regular 40 degree days. NOT OKAY WITH THAT. 😳
This is such an awesome post idea. There have definitely been many books I was expecting to hate. I thought I’d hate The Infernal Devices because I thought the covers were so ugly but loved them. I also thought Percy Jackson would suck but alas, it’s one of my all time favourites now.
I’m with you on Percy Jackson actually! I thought I wouldn’t like them because they’re MG. But I loooved them. So hilarious!!😂
I really want to read Six of Crows but I’m a little nervous to because I didn’t enjoy the Grisha trilogy :S
I’m STILL ticked off at how the Grisha books ended.😂 But I loved Six of Crows despite that!!
I’ll give it a go then 🙂
Hey Cait! I’ve been following your blog for ages but this is the first time I have commented on one of your posts (great post by the way!) I can’t believe I haven’t said this before but I love your blog and your posts are always wonderfully entertaining!
I totally agree with you about the Graces, going into it I had read so many negative reviews and some comparisons to Twilight which really put me off but I ended up loving it! I don’t understand why so many people dislike it, it reminded me of The Craft! Initially I also thought Six of Crows wasn’t for me because it took me three attempts to get past the first few chapters but the fourth time I was hooked and it’s now one of my favourite fantasy books ever! Another one of my favourite series you mentioned is the Lunar Chronicles. When I first started reading I thought Scarlet was book 1 and got really confused so I took it back to the library and didn’t discover Cinder until about two years later, for shame.
Oh oh HELLO ESTELLA!! WELCOME!! You get aaaall the welcome cake and hopefully I shall not scare you away too fast.😂 *passes cupcakes* But thank you so much. <3 That's literally the best encouragement of the world.
I'm so glad you liked The Graces too!! *hi fives* I feel like we're the only ones who enjoyed it?!😂 It was so weird and whimsical and just...beautiful. In a weird way. I can't even summarise why I liked it so much, but I truly did! And SAME with Six of Crows! Like it's hard going getting in without drowning in confusion, but then it's truly the best.
CAKE IS NEVER A CLICHE. *ahem* Anyway, I had the same initial thoughts on Riders! The cover was sort of cool, but I was somehow confused by the blurb. Thankfully I really enjoyed it! The way it was told was really awesome, and the characters were so great. 😀
Brilliant post, and to die for photos as always! <3
OH GOOD. Because the liklihood of me quitting talking about it is 0%.😂
Riders was soooo great, eeeep. And it’s so underrated! I’m absolutely flailing for the sequel but you’re like the 2nd person I’ve met who’s even read it.😂
Whaattt? Why have people not read such a gorgeous book??? I NEED the sequel!
(Also, what is happening with the weather in Australia at the moment? It was like winter for a few days, then it got warm, and now there are thunderstorms everyday! I don’t understand it at all.)
THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT AUSTRALIA. Omg I think there’s something seriously wrong with our country.😂 It was like 22 the other day?!? And 16 at night! And now it wants to be summer again.😂
So true! It got down to 14 degrees in the morning last week. I think Australian weather is having an identity crisis or something. 😀
IT IS HAVING A CRISIS. At first it was trying to fry our brains out over summer and now it doesn’t know what it wants. Gahhhh.😂
Aaaaand now I have more books to buy/shove up the TBR list. Don’t think I don’t see your evil plan to bury me in books for what it is.
DARN MY EVIL PLAN IS TOO TRANSPARENT. I SHOULD BE MORE SUBTLE.😂
I READ TWO OF THESE BOOKS ON THE LIST BECAUSE OF YOUR REVIEWS! I’m 200% serious. I read The Graces and The Impostor Queen and WOW I did love The Graces! (And the cover of The Curses is equally beautiful?! I’m all the excitement right now?)
And I’ve just ordered Whisper to Me AND Women in the Walls because of your reviews! HOW IS THIS HAPPENING
I initially thought that I’d hate The Winner’s Crime because The Winner’s Curse was terrible, but Crime and Kiss surprised me because they were really good! Also I didn’t think that I’d like The Diviners because I thought it was a creepy book but honestly I ended up liking the creep?! (and the third book of The Diviners, from the title to the COVER is just a no from me 🙁 )
Most of the time though I’m the opposite, I think that I’ll like a certain book but then no. I end up immensely disliking the book! I know The Accident Season is one of your favorites but when I read it, we didn’t click! Some books this year have been major disappointments, really, but I’m listing Dear Killer as the number one disappointment for me.
*sighs inwardly and waits for your next review because there’s a 8292% chance I’ll cave in and read the book you reviewed*
REALLY?!?!? OMGGGG MY DAY IS OFFICIALLY MADE!! And you loved The Graces!! *shrieks happily from the hilltops* I really want to invest in the hardcover because I LOVE it way over the paperback. 😂 And zomg I’m like selling books this is making my day.😂😂 SOMEONE HIRE ME TO SELL BOOKS hahah.
I’ve read Dear Killer too and will 500% agree with you. What even was that book.😂
I was not sure at all that I’d love Queens Of Geek because it didn’t sound like something I could relate to as I am a fangirl and a hardcore one but at the same time, fangirling isn’t my entire life, you know? Like not to diminish hardcore fangirls but I get distracted easily and find new things to obsess over fast! But YAAS I loved Queens Of Geek so much it was the cutest, most diverse and unexpected read ever!
Oh oh I totally get that! Like I am NOT the kind of fangirl who just flails about in front of people. I mostly do that in my head.😂 But I so did love that book and related so much to the anxiety issues. <3 I just wish the cover wasn't so...hairy.😂
I’m pretty sure everyone skipped the Simon Snow parts, which is funny, because that was my favorite part. 😂 I read gay fan fiction in my spare time, so those parts were so enjoyable to me. I still haven’t read Carry On, yet, for some reason. 😩 And same with Game of Thrones, even though the books are actually giant.
Glad to see you liked Riders! I didn’t like UTNS either and heard meh things about that book, but it sounds interesting to me, so I might go for it.
I actually get you on Cinder! I tried to read it a couple years back and couldn’t get past the first five pages, then re-read it years later and devoured the entire series. I also was wary of Six of Crows because I didn’t like Shadow and Bone, but it was so amazing, that I realized I had nothing to worry about!
YOU MUST READ CARRY ON THEN, IF YOU LIKED THOSE SNIPPETS!!😂 I just always hate snippets in books…like if a book had random articles or news clippings or something to tell a story I’ll skip those too.😂
Riders is sooo different from Under the Never Sky. Like different style and everything. I really loved it. 😍😍
SIX OF CROWS IS SO AMAZING AJFDKSALD I JUST WANT TO RE-READ IT ENDLESSLY.
I don’t usually read books I don’t think I’ll enjoy unless I have to. But I am reading Hamlet right now for school and I LOVE IT SO SO MUCH. It’s a good book if you like death, and it’s also a good book to study because it’s so hard to understand. I thought I would hate Fire by Sara Elfgren, because I didn’t like the first book much, but my firend had given it to me, so I still read it and loved it a lot. I love To All the Boys because a character with complicated identities= me. Also I love chilling at home and baking with my sisters. Cinder is so great to! Sometimes I wonder if you really eat cake that much irl….because your blog eats it all.
I would just DIE reading Shakespeare, I know it. 😭 I barely understand books written in normal language haha. Ahem.
Yaaas that you loved To All The Boys too! IT WAS SO CUTE AND ALSO FOOD. Probably the food is what got me? But I’ll pretend it was for better reasons than that.
(I swear I don’t eat cake ALL the time IRL.)
Alright, so Carry On was the opposite for me. I actually stuck it out for Fangirl because I wanted to devour the Simon and Baz snippets. But once I got to Carry On, I couldn’t stand it. The was not. Enough. Baz. How rude!
Oh, and I think Lara Jean is a magnet for SFF fans. None of us like contemporary, yet we all like TALBILB. How did Jenny Han do it????
Aww, I’m sad.😂 But fair enough haha. I shall flail over it myself.
JENNY HAN IS MAGICAL MASTER THAT IS ALL.
You thought you would HATE six of crows. I think you are the first person I’ve heard saying they though they’ed hate it.
*I MEANT CROOKED KINGDOM* – I get confused…
Haha, well these things happen! And erm, no I thought I wouldn’t like Six of Crows. I KNEW I’d love CK because I loved Six of Crows!
First things first: I SEE WHAT YOU DID IN THAT LAST PICTURE. There are brownies in there. They’re hiding (by which I mean I almost didn’t notice them because they almost blend in with the wood) but I spotted them. And now I want brownies and it’s not even breakfast time yet. (Though I had brownies yesterday, so I shouldn’t today. Also it’s pi day, so I should have pie instead. Anyway. I digress.)
Second things second: LUNAR CHRONICLES. YES. I love those books, and Thorne is amazing and awesome. If I didn’t ship him so hard with Cress, I’d be crushing on him like you’d never believe. (I still crush on him a little, but because he’s taken, I mostly just exclaim over how awesome he is in a platonic-fangirl way.)
Third things third: There are a bunch of these that I now have to double-check if they’re on my TBR list now, and if they aren’t, why not? Like Six of Crows. And The Imposer Queen, because if someone redid Frozen and made it better . . . (Actually, what I really want is a good Snow Queen retelling that actually retells the fairytale and not Frozen, but I think if I want that I’ll have to write it myself.)
Fourth things fourth: Can I have your weather, please? *glowers at the snow outside her window*
I’M LIKE A CAKE SMUGGLER!! SOMEONE AWARD ME!! (With cake preferably.😂) Also FYI they were delicious and I’d share but yet…no.
I adore Thorne eeep!! And actually it took me a while to fully ship him with Cress. I don’t even know why! I love them now though. They were perfect in Winter. 💕😍
Definitely write a Snow Queen retelling. *nods* WE NEED ONE. I feel like I’ve read one but yet…maybe not??? Gah. Need! It’s not really a Snow Queen retelling, but it has similar awesome elements. 😍 And YES you can have my weather. It won’t stop raining.😂
Cake smuggler. Oh my pumpernickel, that’s so you. And I kind of guessed, ’cause (1) you have an image to uphold, and (2) internet.
I knowwwwww. So adorable. So awesome. I shipped him and her right off the bat, but that’s because they fit into one of my favorite romance archetypes and it makes me so happy.
*adds to list* And I will happily take rain over snow. Thanks. *puts in a weather order and waits*
I DO have an image to uphold. Everyone probably thinks I exist on cake and books but if I eat cake, I promise it’s mostly healthy cake anyway because I have a lot of allergies.😂
I love it when an underrated book turns out great but it doesn’t happen often to me because I don’t take many risks. I did love the GOT books but only ‘read’ – I listened to audio coz hello have you seen how big those bad boys are – because I had already fallen in love with the TV series.
The audios are the BEST way to tackle the GoT series!! I’ve collected some books but only cracked them open once and saw all the weird spellings and then closed them.😂
So many of these are books that I really loved! I actually just shared my review for Queens of Geek today! lol. I loved Cinder even though I really didn’t think I would at all. It didn’t sound like something I would be into at all, but I was very pleasantly surprised. Great list!
Afjdaskld I’m glad you loved Queens of Geek too!!! IT WAS SO CUTE and perfectly representing the fandom life. 😍
You’ve just sold me on Riders! It’s going on my tbr now and, oh look there’s a giveaway for it on Goodreads now too!
OMG IT’S FATE! Fingers crossed that you win!!😂
Ahhhh I can’t believe you didn’t think you’d like Six of Crows! I bought both books impulsively (I do everything like that, actually) and binge read them in one afternoon. Also who DOESN’T love Kaz? He’s a fave 🙂
And I really loved Jenny Han’s and Marissa Meyer’s books too. Thorne and Peter are the cutest 😊😊
Loved the post, Cait! I hadn’t heard much about Riders but I’ll be sure yo add it to my TBR.
KAZ IS A GIF TO THIS UNIVERSE, THE EVIL LITTLE HELLION. OH HOW I ADORE HIM. <3
Thorne is like the besssst and Peter = <3 I ship them so hard with their OTPs.
Ok but first I had to ask this Cait : 29degrees celcius is icy??! I live in tropical island and I never know winter but 29degrees is HOT even for us hahahaha 😂😂😂 alright…. I’m ready to comment on your post now, sorry hahaha 😛
I love Whisper to Me too but I think the cover is pretty hahaha pastel = my life aesthetic, enough said. Aaaand I never thought CK would be here hahaha I was scared of reading it, yes, but I have faith it would be amazing and it was haha I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DISLIKE TATBILB TOO! Though my reason was because of the love triangle it’s my biggest pet peeve hahah but noooo I was wrong and definitely in love with the book and its sequel <3 Another book I thought I'd hate was The Crown's Game because everyone seemed to hate it hahaha turned out I really enjoyed it and now waiting for tThe Crown's Game 😀
I WAS BEING SARCASTIC.😂 Omg I thought everyone knew not to take me seriously haha!! I should’ve put a disclaimer there hahahhhhhh. Ahem. It’s just been a wicked hot summer, like averaging 40!! So 29 felt like a cool change.😂
To All The Boys tho is like the biggest surprise of my LIFE. I was genuinely distressed when I finished and basically ordered the next book right away. #obsessed 😂
The classic Winchester gifs improve everything…
I skipped the fanfic parts in Fangirl! Unashamedly, with lots of eye-rolling! But I think there’s a lot to be said for an entire book devoted to the idea of the fanfic – rather than risking it being lame or taking itself too seriously – and then it makes fangirls look bad (like you said).
For me, I tend to think of the F.U.N. song “Carry On.” (and then quickly forget, because I only remember the bridge of that song)
And you need to give us that cake. Now. 😉
There’s nothing a Winchester gif can’t improve 1000 % honestly. :’)
And I think those fanfic parts were just…out of context for me?!? Like I didn’t CARE about them because my brain was in “I’m reading a contemporary” mode not a magical fantasy.😂
Hey hey there. Demanding cake off me. AS IF I WOULD SHARE.
Game of Thrones is everything 🙌💖 That’s the only book I’ve read from this series but they’re a billion pages long so 💯
YAS YOU LOVE THEM TOO! *hi fives* They’re way better than the show. Although I haven’t finished the show because I didn’t want to see Jon die.😂
Wait, did you just say 84 degree F was icy? When it’s finally 50F (10C) here everyone starts busting out their shorts and flip flops.
I haven’t read most of these, but wait, you literally gave up Cinder after the first sentence? Haha. I don’t even remember what it was, but wow. I guess part of the reason that’s never been an issue with me is I’ve always preferred buying new books over going to the library so I always end up reading them even if I don’t like them initially. (Unfortunately that can lead to some pretty bad slumps as I also refused to put books down so if I was stuck reading a book I didn’t like it’d take me 3 months to get through it and I just wouldn’t allow myself to read anything else. Oh, the horror.)
Also, I am now craving chocolate. Not that I like the seashell chocolate you mention for the Graces cover. But the word chocolate is enough to send me in a frenzy of looking for some around the house. Thanks for that. 😉
I WAS BEING SARCASTIC.😂😂😂 I’m sorry! I should have clarified haha. I just assumed everyone knows how hot it gets in Oz so when I say 84F isn’t hot, I’m joking around. 😉
And YES. Aren’t I shameful!? I never DNF books now though so hopefully that makes up for my Cinder shame.😂 I hear you with the slumps though! I generally get slumps because I DO try to read everything even when my gut says “heyyy you aren’t going to like this”. *facepalm*
You are so welcome. :’) I am always here to instigate chocolate cravings. #helpful
Haha, my bad. Me being away from the blogosphere for the past year or two has made my sarcastic reading skills go a bit rusty. 😝
I love that you never DNF books now because I’m actually the opposite. I just DNFed my first book this year! Unless I’m reading it for some specific (like a book club), I let it go now if I’m not feeling it. While there’s always that fear of it getting better and me missing out, I’m always put back in my place when I look at my bookshelf with all the unread books sitting there. I need to read as many as possible before I move countries next year! I don’t want to leave any unread ones behind! Ahhhhhhh!
No no! It’s my bad! At least 4 other people got confused at that too.😂😂
I think it’s awesome to DNF though! Even if I can’t manage it…life is short and we should read good books. 😉
I haven’t read the Game of Thrones books because they’re massive, but I put off watching the show until last year. I thought I’d hate it. But, I didn’t! Now I have a mild obsession.
I hope you like the books! They’re WAY better than the show.😂So much more depth hahaha.
Ack, I didn’t like the Cinder series. It probably had something to do with me guessing the plot of the whole book and the plot twist in the second chapter. *shrugs*
The plot was kind of predictable but I still LOVED IT.
Can I just say how much I love that you’re willing to give just about ANY book a chance? Even books that, from a starting point, are ALL sorts of wrong. I admit, I’m sorely tempted to read Queen of Geeks, yet it’s one of those books that I’d probably pass by because I feel like I’m too old for it. I mean…come on, that cover?? But maybe I should care and read it anyway-because come on! I need a book like this in my life!
Aww, thanks!😂 I honestly am such a book addict that I HAVE TO TRY THEM ALL…although I’m much more picky about contemporary. It has to be about a topic I’m REALLY interested in to grab me. hhehe. I do totally recommend Queens of Geek!! I adored it and it’s not even my typical style either.😂
It kinda pains me to say it now, but originally, I DNF’ed Six of Crows the first time I picked it up. I don’t know what my brain was doing at the time, but I just didn’t click with the first 50 pages and I was too bored to try to figure out what was going on. I definitely felt the same confusion with the blurb + what the story actually *was*, like you said. The hype eventually made me try it again, though and needless to say, I totally loved it, + my baby Kaz. (still haven’t read crooked kingdom tho, because iM SCARED DAMMIT.)
I always thought I’d hate the infernal device trilogy, because I wasn’t the biggest fan of tdm, But the trilogy ended up being one of my utter favorites, and I just love love love will, jem, + tessa to bits. But let’s NOT talk about the ending okay bc hello tears.
Love this post, Cait! I think it’s so fun to compare expectations to outcomes when it comes to books. They’re such surprising little buggers.
(And WInchester gifs will *always* improve posts tenfold. <3)
I don’t blame you at all.😂I didn’t even LOVE Six of Crows the first time I read it! I only fell completely in love with my re-read and then the audiobook is what 1000% sold me. (If you like audios, I totally recommend it!) afjdkslad Kaz is precious and JESPER. <3 And Nina is like someone I can totally relate to hhaa. Waffles. Crooked Kingdom doesn't disappoint though!! DON'T WORRY.
Jem was so adorable!! I secretly shipped Will/Magnus though so.😂
I just started reading “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before”, and I’m really liking it so far. I definitely thought due to the blurb that it wouldn’t be for me, but with so many people recommending it, I thought I would give it a try.
Oooh, I’m so glad you’re enjoying it!! IT’S SO CUTE AND FLUFFY BUT FUN!! And it has some good themes and depth and everything, so it doesn’t feel like just eating cotton candy or anything haha.
I used to cover judge really bad. Then as a fifth-grade avid reader, I ran out of books on my teacher’s shelf to read, so I picked up The Dog That Wouldn’t Be and fell in love with it. It doesn’t mean I don’t cover judge anymore x_x, but I like to think I’m better than I used to be XD
I try not to cover judge…but let’s be real: I always do.😂
AGGH XD I actually thought I would LOVE The Graces BECAUSE of the cover! But it was a different cover lol. And unfortunately, it was a meh read for me. (And I totally agree–River is so annoying??? THE GRACES ARE AMAZING THOUGH.)
SIX OF CROWS IS AMAZING AND I’M SO GLAD YOU GAVE IT A CHANCE. (And what??? Why are you betraying cake??? I thought cake was the most beautiful thing in creation??? How dare you???) (Also, cake is not a cliché on this blog. It IS this blog.)
And omg those Kai & Thorne bookmarks are SO. CUTE.
(Yaas, I finally figured out how to do the “commentluv” thing. XD #techsavvy)
Honestly if the Graces had narrated the story and we cut River out…it probably would’ve been 5stars for me.😂
SIX OF CROWS IS AMAAAAZING. AND I’M SORRY TO CAKE, I DO LOVE CAKE MORE THAN WAFFLES BUT I STILL APPRECIATE A GOOD WAFFEL. I mean a waffle is kind of like a flat cake, right?
Reading books you think you’ll hate and end up loving is the actual BEST. Sometimes I like going into different situations with my expectations low so I can be surprised. I was skeptical about Cinder, too, but I was so, so wrong. Also These Broken Stars. Basically any sci-fi for a while had me side-eyeing it like a toddler faced with broccoli. I FREAKING LOVED Carry On!!! The fan-fiction snippets weren’t my favorite, either, but I still read them and giggled a few times. I liked trying to see the parallels between it and Harry Potter.
(Also, yes, A+ gifs, and yes, cake is a cliché here, but does that have to be a bad thing??? I think not.)
Omg “side-eyeing it like a toddler faced with broccoli.” <--- BEST DESCRIPTOR EVER 😂 Carry On though. <3 SO PRECIOUS. THOSE LITTLE SNARKY HELLIONS. Such a perfect ship haha. And I was addicted to the Starbound books just on cover love alone because I'm THAT shallow.😂
I’ll admit that I was slightly hesitant when it came to Six of Crows as well. The Grisha trilogy did not quite sell me over on Leigh Bardugo, but the Six of Crows duology did so at least that was rectified.
The cover for Queens of Geek would make me go the opposite direction, haha. Good that is is a good read though.
Saaaaame. Like now I’d call Leigh Bardugo a favourite author of ever…😂 But I wasn’t so keen on the Grisha books, more for like where the plot went. I loved Sturmhond!
Definitely I need to put some of these books in my cart like Whispers to me, Six of crows and The graces *o*
OH YES DEFINITELY DO. GOOD LIFE CHOICES RIGHT THERE.
WHISPER TO ME IS PRECIOUS. I read it because I saw that you had it on a list (whether this was a TBR list or a “I just read this” list or a “I hated this with my whole being” list is unclear to me, but all I know is that I started it at 9:30 pm and finished it at 2 am. I quite literally did not put it down. It’s definitely one of my favs.
I remember really enjoying the Graces (heck, I still want to BE the Graces, which I know is kind of the opposite of what the book was going for in the end, but #rebel).
aFJDASKLD I’M SO GLAD I GOT YOU TO READ IT. I feel so accomplished when I convince someone to read (and love!!) a book.😂 I gave it 5 stars and everything and I’m sooo stingy so, that says a lot.😂
I WANT TO BE THE GRACES TOO. I actually totally got why River was obsessed. Me too.😂
Oo, Riders sound so good! And that cover with the flaming horse AWEHRAEKJ! I want it. (I now realize that I’ve already added most of these books to my goodreads tbr because of your reviews.)
And the brownies/cakes in the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before photo are making me hungry.
Sooo, I’m actually very weary of Rainbow Rowell books for the same reason you were skeptical about To All the Boys. I just look at the covers and they make me think of fluff and sparkles and no dragons. I don’t know if I can handle a book without dragons and swords and ships. Especially Fangirl. I’m pretty sure I won’t get any of the fandom jokes. But everyone likes Rowell.
But I do really like the cover of Eleanor and Park. I’d kinda like to read that one.
And I’m so scared that I won’t like Harry Potter. Everyone tells me to read it and then they rave about it. And what if I’m the little weirdo who’s unimpressed? And the books are HUGE! Maybe I’ll just watch the movies first . . . I guess I’m just scared of being disappointed by the hype. Like my TFIOS hype failure.
My reviews are doing so well then. I’M PROUD OF ME.😂 And also proud of you, because obviously you have excellent to like my taste. *nods*
And omg that To All The Boys photo was SO hard to take..you know…without a nibble or two…(actually my dog was overseeing that photoshoot quite intently. No clue why).
Carry On has no sparkles and glitter! All magic and damaged characters. <3 It's beautiful. JUST WHAT I NEED IN LIFE. I feel like you would like Fangirl...there aren't fandom jokes, really! She's a writer!!!
I actually was kind of unimpressed with HP.😂I don't know if I'm just being cantankerous. I mean, I LIKED it but I'm no where near obsessed like everyone else is. Oops.
I totally skipped the Simon/Baz parts in fangirl as well! I wasn’t even gonna read Carry On and you have inspired me to do so. Thank Cait!
Oh goodie, hehe, I hope you like it!!😂
I want to read The Impostor Queen SO BADLY! You’ve said only good things about it so it has to be good, right?? Also, I’m so bad at judging book covers. Like, if a book cover is ugly then I’m super hesitant to read it and I MUST STAAHHHPPP WITH THAT GOSH.
YES AND YOU MUST TRUST ME BECAUSE LOOK HOW ON POINT I WAS WITH BONE GAP. #CaitsRecsAreLife 😂😂 (And dude, I’m the same with book covers.😂 I try not to judge but I CANNOT.)
I LOOOOVED CARRY ON! It was everything. And yes, I agree to the similarities to Harry Potter at the beginning. I listened to the audio and it was epic.
I love your Supernatural references.
And I need to read the Lara Jean series!
I think Carry On got WAY better as it went on!! It became so much more original.😂
I didn’t like I’d like Six of Crows either, since I didn’t like the Shadow and Bone series. Same with Cinder, I didn’t like the first book Cinder, but I love the rest of the series. Thorne’s my favorite! I always think I will hate contemporary too, but I have ones I love! Like The Problem with Forever, I’ll Give You the Sun, Things We know by Heart. I also thought I would hate the Raven Cycle. I know! Gasp! But I didn’t, I just felt like it was over hyped before I read it. I don’t think cake is a cliche on your blog. Its more of the theme of your blog:)
Thorne is a gif to bookish kind. I LOVE THORNE SO MUCH. And The Problem With Forever was aaaamazing, same with I’ll Give You The Sun!! I thought I’d like both of them though in advance, because I liked the premises.😂 But it always happily surprises me when I adore a contemproary. hehe.
THE RAVEN CYCLE IS MY LIFE BTW. IN CASE I NEVER MENTION IT.😂
I never thought I would like the divergent series or any dystopian/action series ever as I’m all about soppy romance but my friend who was obsessed with the movies convinced me and turns out I like reading about badass ninja women saving a dystopian world as well as girly fluff! x
hollyolivia18.blogspot.com
YAS THAT’S SO AWESOME!! Badass ninja women are honestly my favourites.😂
Mine too apparently 😂
I HAVE YOU TO THANK FOR MAKING ME READ WHISPER TO ME. And so many of these are amazing – Cinder, To All the Boys, Carry On…just goes to show you CAN like adorable contemporaries, Cait!
I’M REALLY GLAD I CONVINCED YOU!! And yayy books we agree on.😂😂 I’m so proud of me for liking contemporaries. I just read Lucky Few by Katherine Ormsbee and it was AMAZING so I am slowly training myself to like contemporaries.😂
I totally skipped the fanfiction bits in Fangirl too! I just didn’t really get them and wasn’t interested in them. I wanted to read about Cath, not her actual fanfiction! I probably wouldn’t pick up Carry On, though, it just doesn’t sound like my thing 😅
Ooh, I literally just finished To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before! I tried reading it before and couldn’t get into it (I was on holiday at the time, so I was busy being a heathen and doing holiday things instead of reading), but I picked it up again and omg I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. I really want to start reading the next book now, but I’ve already made up my TBR for the month and I can’t really stray from it now 😬
*hi fives* At least we’re skippers together.😂😂 And SAME. I was here for Cath!! The excerpts were kind of just confusing out of context?
AHHHH I’m glad you liked To All the Boys too!! IT WAS SO CUTE. I need to read the sequel. hehehe.
I don’t usually get caught in the reading a book I think I won’t like but I love it trap. It’s much more likely that the opposite will happen, where I think I’ll love one and it ends up being terrible. 🙁
I think the closest would be To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, but that comes with a caveat. I listened to it as an audiobook and the narrator was terrible. I’m reading it again as a hardcover book and liking it a lot more, so that sort of fits here?
Winchester gifs improve EVERYTHING. How about throwing a Castiel one in there next time? 😉 Or a pie one since today is Pie Day! 😀 I know you’re the Queen Goddess of Cake and everything, but Dean does love him some pie so this is his day.
Agreed! I have WAY more instances of the opposite happening, but it’s fun when it turns out for the best instead.😂 Oh but UGH sucky narrators totally can ruin books. I’m like 99% sure that’s why I hated Jackaby. Like it was everything I SHOULD have loved and the narrator for the audio was so irritating!! I could barely finish it!!
CASTIEL YES. I SHOULD’VE HAD CAS.😂
I mean to eat pie today and then I forgot. #FAIL
Timekeeper had a decent narrator, luckily. I just finished that one and next I want to listen to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, especially since they got Eddie Redmayne to narrate it in character. 😀
To be honest I forgot to get pie too, but we had monkey bread so that was kind of close?
I’m actually tempted to listen to Fantastic Beasts now!! It’ll sound perfect.😂
What is MONKEY BREAD?!?! I must google!!
How does one describe monkey bread…it’s a ring of small pieces of dough mashed together, baked with cinnamon and almost a caramel-y sauce. You pluck a piece off to each and it’s pretty good. 🙂
It’s good to be surprised by books. I love Cinder and I really need to find time for Winter – the first three (and Fairest) were great. 🙂
I STILL need to read Carry On, but I own it, and I really loved the fanfic parts in Fangirl. I know not everyone did though, so you’re not the only one there!
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed Queens of Geek! I really do hope to read it!
-Lauren
It is!! It’s such a special feeling I just adore it so much!! 😀 And ajfdkslad Fangirl is amazing and I’m glad you actually did like the fanfic parts.😂I wonder if I reread it now, would I enjoy them more? hehe
*gasps and holds heart* You thought you would hate the … Lunar Chronicles? *screams and faints* Honestly though, now that I think about it I didn’t think I’d like them either. Cause I’m not a big fan of dystopian and “cyborg Cinderella” seemed a little out-there XP But a friend raved highly about them and screamed at me to read them so I DID AND I AM SO SO GLAD CAUSE THEY ARE AMAZING. Also I just got Six of Crows from the library … *jumps excitedly*
I KNOW. AREN’T I THE SILLIEST?!?😂😂 I thought I’d like it when I heard about it…but then…that first page.😂 hah. no. But I’m so glad I gave them a second chance!! SIX OF CROWS IS EVERYTHING THOUGH AJFDKSALFD I HOPE YOU LIKE IT.
YES YES YES TO ALL OF THESE. Particularly Whisper to Me, which I had barely heard about because you’re right, no one talked about it???? and it’s so good and adorable and sad and representing???? I never cry in books, but that one teared me up, which is saying a lot.
Also I want to read all of these on this list, so yes my friend, this list was practically perfect in every way. And I related ridiculously to how you put on a sock, which I also did yesterday for the first time in what feels like years (this summer will never end will it) and didn’t want to take it off. Until I got a headache from overheating. *sighs*
And how much do I love going into a book with zero expectations!!! I did that both with Six of Crows and Lord of the Rings and boy, was I wrong for both *hugs those two books forever and never lets go*
It’s so WEIRD that no one ever talks about Whisper To Me?!??! IT WAS INCREDIBLE. <3 5stars from me an aaaall the love eep. I had so many emotions about it.
I'm really glad summer is over tbh.😂 It's raining where I am, so kind of cool, but like NOT COOL ENOUGH. I WOULD LIKE SOME WINTER PLS AND THANK YOU. Summer was obnoxiously hot.😂
I’m so glad too 🙂 Normally I’m a Summer type of person but it’s getting ridiculous now. Also it’s raining here too so yay!
(and I think nobody talks about Whisper To Me because their hearts are broken and they only wish to forget.)
Nice list! I also thought I’d hate Game of Thrones, but then I watched the premiere episode during a free preview HBO weekend, and knew I’d have to read the books to learn what happened next. Now, I’m crazy obsessed with the series. Six of Crows was one I didn’t think I’d like because of all the hype around it. Plus, I never read the Grisha series. I’m glad I was wrong. Such a great series! Now I want to go back and read the first series.
YAS! I’m glad you’ve read the books! I know tons of people say they’d rather just see the show (I haven’t finished it…I couldn’t watch Jon die.😂 He’s my favourite) but the books are soooo much deeper and more complex and AWESOME.
Definitely try the Grisha series, I reckon! I think the Six of Crows duology is better, but the Grisha books give tons of interesting backstory!
OH MY GOSH I THOUGHT I WOULD HATE CINDER TOO. That whole first page was very weird, and I closed and reopened that book so many times before I actually read it but BOY OH BOY AM I GLAD THAT I DID. Because Thorne!! And Cress!! And KAI!! AAAHHH I love that series!
Also, I was pretty sure I’d be the only human on the planet that didn’t like Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda because honestly, that blurb sounded way weird to me and I was not interested. I was also #coverjudging real hard tbh. BUT! After all the hype, I read it and I loved it and it’s full of sugary sweetness, and I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE MOVIE! I love this post!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought that first page was “Whaaaat”. 😂😂 SOMETIMES SOME PAGES JUST DON’T CLICK?!? I don’t know. I was so confused haha. The rest of the series is A+ though, except Winter was a bit long hehe.
I loved Simon Vs too!! I figured I would though because I heard he really loved dessert so…#relatable.
Reading this post makes me want to start //not// judging books by their covers. But I’m probably still gonna do it, let’s be honest. I ALSO FELT THE NEED TO SAY THAT SUPERNATURAL GIFS DEFINITELY IMPROVE EVERYTHING. You really can’t go wrong with them.
SO MUCH TRUTH ABOUT SUPERNATURAL THO.
And I will never stop cover judging.😂 It’s just meeeee always.
I also skipped the Simon/Baz parts in Fangirl. But Carry On was so good, because BAZ and SIMON and Penelope! We will not talk about Agatha, because she was complicated and I was loving and hating her. I need to read Cinder. because I have the book right there but I keep getting intimidated because *cyborg* just sounds so out of my comfort zone. I’ll gather the courage to read that series . Then, I’ll come back and fangirl with you.
Agatha was a waste of space.😂😂 I LOVED CARRY ON SO MUCH THO. I’m tempted to reread it now haha, especially the second half. It was so awesome!!
I’m the opposite as you with Game of Thrones and Six of Crows – with GoT, I thought I’d adore it, but I found the writing to be bland and confusing. The story is the same with Six of Crows as I couldn’t connect to any of the characters except Kaz and Wylan; I also found the writing to be very dull. But there have been lots of books I didn’t think I’d like but ended up loving – The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater, The Martian by Andy Weir, Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan (which I think you’d like), and Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan – to name a few.
Ellie | On the Other Side of Reality
Aww, I’m sad! But like I get it…especially with epic fantasy. Not every book is for everyone. *nods* I read a book that two of my friends thought I’d love and I hated it so bad.😂😂 I was so annoyed with myself haha.
THE RAVEN KING IS MY FAVOURITE.
And I want to read that bookstore book!!
This happens to me ALLL the time. Usually has something to do with bird people. I also didn’t want to read To All the Boys because of fluffiness. I DO want to read The Impostor Queen, but seeing your love for it pushes it up on the ol’ TBR, so that’s just a win-win. I am Past Cait with Game of Thrones right now. Mostly because A) They are huge and B) I don’t trust this dude to ever finish them. I am also one of the few people who didn’t hate The Graces, yay! Also, the US covers are WAYYYY prettier and not weirdly seashell-y. Also your baked goods have made me hungry. This is not okay since it snowed nearly 30 inches (THIRTY INCHES, Cait) and I cannot go produce a baked good even if I wanted to. I even had to forgo coffee today. Things are rough.
Honestly…don’t start Game of Thrones.😂 HE’S NEVER GOING TO FINISH THEM AND LIFE IS STUPID. I mean, how hard is it to write that much anyway?? I whipped up 200K in 8 days. Get onto it GRRM, you slacker. 😭😂
Oh oh and I’m glad you liked The Graces too!! We can be the small minority hehe. I’m desperate for the sequel…and also for the US covers.
WHY IS IT SNOWING. I THOUGHT YOU HAD SPRING. *slides you coffee cake across the table*
I will admit I was dubious about Six of Crows, Cinder and Carry On too but HEY TURNS OUT WE SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN. Because looooove. And I still have to read some of these but ssshhhh.
WE SHOULD’VE JUST EMBRACED THEM AND ALL THEIR AWESOME. 😍
I agree SOOOO MUCH about (all of this but mostly) Carry On! I tried reading Simon and Baz bits in Fangirl, I really did. I lasted like…. two bits. Maybe one and a half. But they were just so… boring without their own book. And honestly felt like a joke because of Harry Potter. Plus, they were distracting. My tiny heart can only care about so many characters at once.
But then Rowell did their own book and it was magic. Even objectively speaking, how many authors could pull off something that smells like 10000% Harry Potter rip-off only isn’t because it doesn’t take itself too seriously?
(Also, yes to ALL WINCHESTER BRO GIFS. Fool-proof method to improving one’s blog post/day/life/existence. Not that you need any blog improvement, of course. Because your posts are kind of like the Winchester gifs = pure magic.)
SAME! I think I tried but like they don’t even make sense out of context, I don’t think?!? But IN context they were so cute. And I like half feel that it was supposed to be a HP rip off a bit?? But it bothered me until about 50% through and then it got really original AND I LOVED IT.
Winchesters just make everything better. :’) Well, in theory. In actuality they keep breaking the world. BUT WE DON’T MIND BECAUSE THEY TRY AND THEY’RE NICE.
If it makes you feel better, our spring here in Missouri is a lot colder than your fall. It was 20 degrees (F) yesterday. It was literally snowing.
I can’t believe you sent Cinder back to the library the first time. That sounds so crazy now. 😀
Omg that’s FREEZING. I WOULD DIE. I don’t even know those temperatures in our winter!! I mean you would down south here, but where I live our lowest winter temperature is probably 5C (41F) 😂
It does sound crazy!! I look back and laugh so much.😂
The only one of these I’ve read is Cinder, which ironically I went in thinking I’d love and came out kind of ambivalent. I’m usually pretty accurate at telling what I’ll like or not and I hardly ever go into books blind anymore because of blogging, which is great but at the same time kind of a shame, I miss being able to pick up a book I know nothing about!
I totally understand that! I actually still go into a lot of books blind, but then I read a lot of ones I wouldn’t have picked up myself naturally so hadn’t been reading reviews for them.😂 But I like NEVER go out and get a book from myself without knowing a lot about it now!
I TOTALLY WASN’T GOING TO READ CARRY ON, EITHER. Then everyone started reading it and loving it and I figured WHAT THE HECK, IT WILL COMPLETE MY RAINBOW ROWELL COLLECTION and I actually really liked it. I also had the same feelings about To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. I didn’t think it would be an Aine book. IT WAS TOTALLY AND AINE BOOK.
That was basically me too! Like “eh why not” and I won it so that was a doubly “why not” situation.😂😂 IT WAS SO CUTE THO. SUCH A CAIT BOOK TOO. Simon is so tragic and pathetic and I love that he eats so many scones.😂
Hmm, that really encourages me re: The Graces. I was expecting I’d dislike it based on the description… but since you’re promising me magic, I’ll give it a go.
The ending is the best part!! I hope you like it.😂
Wow we really do end up liking books unexpectedly don’t we? I just read my very first contemporary YA romance 😛 and I unexpectedly liked it a lot! Now I’ve totally decided to pick up Jenny Han’s book considering you love them!! <33 Cause I'm a lot like you in the fact that I'm not a fan of contemporaries..the mundane normal real life!! I need witches and evil villains dammit! But yeah, still gonna give To all the boys I've loved before a fair chance 🙂 Great post Cait <33
YAS THAT WE LIKE SOME CONTEMPORARIES SOMETIMES!! 😂 I mean, fantasy is my life…but it’s sort of nice to actually enjoy contemporaries on occasion, right?!? And zomg I really hope you like Jenny Han’s books!! So cute and squishy. Could be improved with dragons tho, let’s be real.
Hi! Your pictures are always so beautiful. 🙂 This is one of my fav TTT blogs to visit! I am horrible at reading books I don’t think I’ll like. The last time I did that it was was Hunger Games. Contemporary is my jam. But I ended up really being entertained. And also, I feel the same way about the Queens of Geek cover. Lol. There is so much pink! And the hair! But I’m going to get to eventually 🙂
My TTT
Leslie
OMG THANK YOU, LESLIE!! That means so much to me!! 💕 I’m glad you liked The Hunger Games! I read it before I was even book blogging so I knew nooothing about it but SO SO OBSESSED WITH IT. And I promise Queen of Geeks is better than the cover.😂
I don’t think I ever end up liking books that I think I’m going to hate… mostly because I don’t bother reading books that I think I’m going to hate.
I’ve read plenty going the other way, though. So disappointing.
That’s actually very wise of you.😂😂 I think we’ve established I have some questionable reading methods.😂😂
WINCHESTER GIFS IMPROVE EVERY SINGLE POST ESPECIALLY IF THEY’RE OF DEAN AS A BABY CHICKEN CHASING THINGS/PEOPLE. I literally started laughing and my rabbit looked at me like I was the vet.
Also…
CAKE CAN NEVER BE CLICHE IT’S CAKE. Annnnnd now I want a waffle-themed cupcake. That sounds so fracken good. Uggggggghh.
I tried to read Game of Thrones and totally gave up a couple chapters in. I was so stressed out! SO MANY NAMES. I have saved them when I am at a point in my life where I can dedicate more focused attention to them (probably a bit of time from now). I also was not so sure about Carry On either. I DID read the excepts in Fangirl, but was kind of confused how a whole book could be made about it? BUT THE WHIMSY. Oh, the whimsy. I’m definitely a whimsy lover. Pastels are LOVELY (dont hurt me pls)
YOUR RABBIT OMG.😂😂 Your rabbit comment has me laughing bahahaha, that’s the best. Although I sincerely apologise to your rabbit for causing a disturbance to it’s life. Although, kinda #sorrynotsorry.😂 AHMMMM. Winchesters are perfection, especially if they’re chickens.
A waffle cake?!?!? A WAFFLE CAKE?!??! I have need.
Honestly the Game of Thrones books are WAY better an audio. You don’t even notice the names are so dumb because the audio makes it sound more natural. I think I would’ve died if I’d attempted the actual books.😂
You can have aaall the pastels. This works out lovely. I have the violent bright colours. You have pastels. Together, we balance the world. #CaitLogic
SIX OF CROWS! I actually put off reading that book for FOREVER because, yes, I liked the Grisha, but I was just confused. I was confused by the cover (it seriously took me until a month or so ago (yes AFTER I read the book. And wrote the review. And raved the book and told people to read it) that it was a crow). I was confused by the blurb. And I was sick of authors writing a bunch of spin-off stuff in a world they already used because it gets stale and I like variety. BUT IT WAS SO GOOD! (And even though I’m against spin-offs, if Bardugo ever writes something with Kaz and/or Inej in it EVER AGAIN I WILL READ IT IN A HEARTBEAT!)
Similar experience with Cinder. It just looked weird, and I figured it was overhyped. And I picked up a copy in the bookstore and skimmed the first page and was like “Eck.” And then I didn’t give it a fair chance until Fairest was already out. In a way I’m grateful to my silly self because I was able to read almost the entire series back to back!
I really like spin-offs.😂 I actually like them more because I don’t have to go through a whole batch of new world building haha! But I find blurbs SO CONFUSING HALF THE TIME. I mean, when you really stop to read a blurb, half the time they’re either boring or spoilery or confusing.😂
BUT I AM NOW 5000% LEIGH BARDUGO TRASH AND WILL BUY ANYTHING SHE WRITES. Look what she’s done to me.😂
Wow – don’t you just love it when you love a book you expected to hate. Although I actually don’t experience it very often. I read so many books on my kindle, things from years and years ago that I often start them knowing nothing about them at all.
I also get sent lots of books for review too but I’ve discovered so many fantastic authors that way. Many of the books are things I would never have picked up otherwise and I love discovering something new and brilliant.
Also while I read lots of book reviews online, I try not to let that influence my reading – unless its from a particularly trusted blogger with tastes similar to mine.
Greta post as always!
Yaaaas!! Honestly I’m not sad I read so many unsolicited books either, because I would NEVER have picked up Whisper To Me without it and it’s one of my now favourites. <3 It's always good to take risks sometimes haha.😂
Ooooh The Graces!
That was such an unexpected one for me too! But it got it in one of my subscription boxes, so I gave it a try and YASSS!
It was so atmospheric and subtle and enjoyable! Yay!
Six of Crows is STILL on my shelf waiting to be read though. I’m terrible!!
OMG ANOTHER FAN. FLAIL WITH ME, JODIE. We are minority in liking it.😂 But I can’t wait for the sequel!! And I really need to collect the US covers and get away from these seashells haaha.
THERE’S A SEQUEL!
WUT?
I feel like I knew this… and then forgot and now I’m EXCITED! So, thank you for reminding me!
I actually lowkey (highkey) LOVE those seashell chocolates. So the cover makes me hungry *blush*
I have the same crazy ideal that I’ll be able to read every book ever too, so it’s okay, you’re not alone. And having someone shout at me or kindly suggest I read a book is another major factor so I’m with you on that. However, have you ever read a book just because everyone says it’s awful and you want to either be a part of that or try and find out if you actually do like it because you’re indie as heck? Just me? Okay.
Amy;
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Actually…I totally read books that everyone hates because I’m curious.😂😂I should probably feel bad because that seems like such a disagreeable thing to do BUT HEY I’M CURIOUS. And at least we know negative reviews can still sell books, right?!?
LAUGHING OUT LOUD THROUGH THIS WHOLE POST OMG it’s the best. :””) EEEP SO MANY OF THESE NEED TO BE ON MY TBR STAT. Like Crooked Kingdom obvs: “Also there’s waffles and sass, two of the most beautiful things in creation.” << MY LIFE IS BASICALLY 50% WAFFLES AND 50% SASS so obviously there's no denying my needs here. <3 ALSO YESSSS I kind of REALLY WANTED to skip Cath's fanfiction all throughout Fangirl!! IT FELT SO OUT OF CONTEXT. Truly the only reason I found it 2% interesting was because it was clearly ripping off Harry Potter but then I’ve never read Harry Potter so??? LOL IT BORED ME TBH. I’m so glad I’m not the only one. xD
Also wow yes I was very naughty with The Lunar Chronicles at first. Basically I saw all these beautiful memes with quotes from Thorne and was like “GIVE ME THIS RIGHT NOW PLZZZZZ” but then I started reading Cinder and there was no sassy fugitive boy and I was just like “ugh another Cinderella” and idk I was feeling pretty meh about the whole thing. BUT MAN I AM GLAD I GAVE IT ANOTHER SHOT. Cress is definitely my favorite book of the series for sure I could eat it x1000000 <333 Also I need to read To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before!! BECAUSE I’M A SUCKER FOR GOOEY HAPPY CONTEMPORARIES YAAAAS.
Cake is a beautiful cliche. And speaking of cake I NEED SOME ASAP. :’)
YOU GOTTA TRY CROOKED KINGDOM. THE WAFFLE LEVEL JUST CALLS TO YOU.😂 I swear I can’t even think/say “waffles” without associating them with your blog now. MIND CONTROL LEVELS = A+ WELL DONE THERE.😂😂
And yes, I do think Carry On was completely ripping off Harry Potter haha. And somehow yet I still loved it, even though generally I get super cranky when books seem to be copying others too closely. SO THAT WAS GOOD.
And omg I’m glad I’m not alone about the Lunar Chronicles!! I mean, I did actually love Cinder and ended up giving it 5 stars, but I think the series gets WAY better as it goes on. Thorne is the light of the world, this is the honest truth.
I seem to be one of the few people who wasn’t that impressed with Cinder.. It read like a standard YA romance/fairytale retelling to me. I’ve heard the other books are better, but I don’t really feel inspired to read them.
Aww, I’m sad! I really loved it even if it was pretty predictable.😂
I am so glad you like the Six of Crows series because I am close to reading that series. I keep hesitating. I liked her Grisha series, but it didn’t blow me away. But I think I am picking it up soon, I have it on the short list.
Rebecca @ The Portsmouth Review
It’s sooooo good, I promise it’s like THE BEST OF EVER. And I was the same! I liked the Grisha books but I wasn’t obsessed with them or anything, not like I am with Six of Crows hahah.😂
Winchester gifs improve every post, yes, oh my goodness.
I want that cake.
And yes to Kaz.
I need to read the Lunar Chronicles soon… Is it bad that I REALLY REALLY want to read the entire series EXCEPT Cinder which is what I must start on? #SomebodyHalp (I do own the first one, I just… haven’t… started it…)
YAAS THE MORE WINCHESTERS THE BETTER. :’)
We always need cake. Everyone does. It is the reason of life.
Why don’t you want to read Cinder?!? 😂 Haha, I promise it’s really good and funny! If you get passed the first page.😂
Love this post! I was never interested in trying to read Riders by Veronica Rossi but they way you describe it sounds a billion times more awesome than I thought it would be. I have to read it now that you said it’s like Supernatural. I freaking LOVE Supernatural.
I have to try out reading some Jenny Han. Everybody talks about her series! I guess I have to give it a go sometime. I’m really into the fluff stuff, either.
I STILL HAVEN’T READ THE LUNAR CHRONICLES! I tried to read Cinder and then lost interest. I keep wanting to try reading it again but I haven’t been able to motivate myself to do it.
AHH I’M SO GLAD WE ARE SUPERNATURAL FANS TOGETHER!! AFJDKSALD!
And I definitely recommend Jenny Han!! And this is ME. Who loves Supernatural and blood and guts.😂 And I do understand about Cinder. It’s definitely the weakest of the lot, but still funny and better once you get going with it. 😀
I THINK I’LL HATE BOOKS ALL THE TIME THEN LOVE THEM. Often this is because my sister reccomends them to me and I am mistrustful and then about 90% of the time she’s right about the book, but I still don’t trust her because DUDE. WE’re sisters. I am a suspicious bean!
I LOVED Cinder and co (must reread, especially now I own the series) and To All THe Boys I’ve Loved Before and Carry On (because SCONES. And FOOD. And cute ships.). I read Under The Never Sky, but I haven’t been bothered to finish the series. Oh well. Also I need to read Six Of Crows. How I haven’t yet is a mystery related to my library not having it and me not having money. (So, not a mystery. Whatever. *flips hair fabulously*. I recently read You In Five Acts and I forgot to read the blurb so I had no idea what it would be about BUT IT WAS SO GOOD ARGH. I love not reading blurbs because then I get super suprised by what I’m reading. I’ve legitimately though fantasy books were contemporary and stuff. #becauseimsmartlikethat
I GET THAT THOUGH. I generally don’t read recs from my sister on principle. Because like she can’t be right??? No. Ew. (Although to be fair she never reads anymore so she’d be like saying “here read this uni textbook” if she was to recommend me something and #nope.)
Oh but you DO need Six of Crows. That is a terrifying mystery why it isn’t in your life already.
And not reading blurbs for the win!! I’m going to do a post on why blurbs are the worst.😂
“Okay, Cait, but I have questions. WHY even would you pick up a book in the first place if you thought you wouldn’t like it????” <- I was going to ask you this haha but yes, that fear of missing out! Totally gets me to read books I otherwise might have not.
I'm glad you ended up loving the Lunar Chronicles and Six of Crows! They're definitely fantastic! I still need to read Carry On!
SEE. I’m a mind reader. I knew you’d all ask why I’d try them anyway hahah.😂 It’s just so terrifying to think I might have missed out on some of these?!? They’re like legit my favourite things?!?😂
Why in the world did you even think that you won’t like Six of Crows? That book was glorious. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Leigh Bardugo before SoC, so I was not expecting it to be that awesome, but I was proved wrong in the second chapter itself. Because Kaz. He is perfection personified to me.
Oh, I get you with Cinder! When I heard that the book was about androids and cyborgs, I wanted to run far. I am not into sci fi, and the book sounded so not like my cup of tea. But I ended up with a pleasant surprise when I actually read it.
Also, it’s been AGES since I commented. I am sure your blog missed my face.
Haha I said why in the post! I thought the blurb was confusing and I was mad about my ship in The Grisha books. 😉 KAZ IS MY FAVOURITE DARLING OF EVER.
Awww, I did miss your face!
You think 29C is cold!?!?!?!?! I WOULD MELT AT THAT TEMPERATURE. Honestly, anything over 23C, and I refuse to go outside for fear of being baked to a crisp.
No I was being sarcastic.🙈🙊 I just thought everyone would know I was because I’m always sarcastic in my posts! Sorry for not clarifying!
(Although, seriously now, 23 is cold. 😂 We had a summer of constant 40s!!)
23 is considered a HOT DAY here!!!! One time it got all the way up to 30C, and I thought the world was ending. I literally vegged out on my sofa, complaining, until it cooled down! (And @ 40C, I would actually have died several degrees ago.)
“Am I the only one who skipped all the Baz/Snow fanfic parts in Fangirl?”
No, you are not the only one. I did not get those parts and once I figured out they really didn’t drive the plot of the story, I stopped reading them. Am I a horrific person?
If you’re horrible then SO I AM SO MUCH TOO.😂 I skipped them all haha.
I’VE BEEN DYING TO READ QUEENS OF GEEK, AND I’M WAITING FOR MY LIBRARY TO GET IT IN. I personally really liked the cover, since it has to do with one of the characters.
I also thought I’d dislike Carry On, but I read it a day, and tbh I’d do anything to get a whole book of SnowBaz doing domestic things.
I do like it how the cover ties in with the story!!😂 I just don’t like such a violent pink haha, I’m so judgey about colours. And dude, YES to that Snow/Baz comment. They are too cute and I can’t handle it.
AHHHH I LOVE GAME OF THRONES TOO!! i was so reluctant to read it but I’m so glad i did. ALSO KAZ IS SUCH A SMOL BEAN AND I LOVE HIM.
also because of this review i think i’m going to give cinder another go even though i have no time and already have a gigantic tbr pile. GODDAMMIT.
KAZ IS A SMALL DASTARDLY BEAN AND I CANNOT LOVE HIM ENOUGH.❤️ And I really hope you like Cinder if you try it again! I mean, it’s not for everyone obviously.😂 But the rest of the series gets better as it goes on! (I hear you with the gigantic TBR piles though. omgggg.)
I had the same with The Game of Thrones, so incredibly scared of the length of these books. Currently reading the first book and absolutely loving it!
Blog: http://brittsbookworld.blogspot.nl/
I’m glad you’re enjoying Game of Thrones!! It’s intense BUT WORTH IT. 🎉