If you think I’m a strong independent bookworm who follows my heart and doesn’t conform to society…
…then you are 100% wrong, my friend.
I’m an entirely peer-pressured reader. I just don’t want to miss out on anything! I mean, sure maybe that Super Famous Hyped Book doesn’t look like my thing — but if I don’t read it then: (A) I won’t know what everyone is talking about, and (B) I’ll be as curious as that cat who died that one time, and (C) I will be unable to avoid mortals shrieking at me “BUT WHY HAVEN’T YOU READ IT YET, CAIT??? WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE????” *
So yes, if it’s a hyped book, there is a 96.4% chance I will read it.
And am I ashamed of my peer-pressured status? WELL NO. Because if everyone is talking about it maybe it’s good?!? Maybe I should just find out?!?? MAYBE THE BOOK IS MAGIC AND ANYONE WHO READS IT WILL HAVE THEIR HOUSE TURN TO CHOCOLATE SO THEY HAVE CHOCOLATE SNACKS FOR THE REST OF THEIR BORN DAYS??!?!? ** You never know until you read those hyped books. So I read.
* What am I doing with my life? Ohhh, I don’t know. READING 200 OTHER BOOKS PER YEAR AND CONQUERING PLANETS. SO STOP JUDGING ME AND SIT DOWN, YOU UNDERCOOKED LASAGNA.
** Honestly, a house of chocolate would be a bad idea because I would eat it all and then have no house. Also I doubt it’d last me “for all the rest of my born days”. Maybe a week. Maybe a fortnight if I paced myself. Whoever’s writing this post has got appalling realism. Oh wait….it me. Hahaha.
I’m linking up with Top Ten Tuesday to talk about “Books You Read Because of Recommendation” and I’m accusing the WHOLE internet of being my recommender. BECAUSE HYPE, PEOPLES. I am such a sucker. Sometimes hyped books work for me, sometimes they don’t and I cry over it biannually if I remember to pen it into my calendar. Why yes, I have a colour-coded schedule for showing emotions, don’t we all?
1. SIMON VS THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA
Everyone single blogger and their pet fish was yelling at me to read this. Actual ALL CAPS YELLING WHICH IS SO RUDE REALLY I WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING LIKE —
Okay, I’ll stop myself right there. I potentially yell at people in all caps all the time to read my favourite books. So this is fair. This is karma.
Least to say, I’m super pleased everyone yelled because even though I’m not a huge contemporary fan and theatre is utterly terrifying what with all those people staring at you and all those lines to memorise when I can’t even remember what I ate for lunch so ergo I try to avoid theatre books — I STILL LOVED THIS ONE.
2. EMMY & OLIVER
Oh look. Another CONTEMPORARY. I always fall prey to the contemporary hype, apparently. But since Emmy & Oliver has much witty banter — I’m okay with my peer-pressured status.
Even if the cover is about as interesting as a THE BACK OF A SHAMPOO BOTTLE. I mean, seriously. I need to go look at a cake and restore my eyeball’s sense of peace and balance.
3. MADE YOU UP
HAHHAH ANOTHER CONTEMPORARY. Okay, but this is a little different, because it’s about schizophrenia and I’m very deeply interested in mental illness books. But I distinctly remember thinking “Oh I must read this” and then seeing bloggers yell that it’s absolutely superb and thinking “OH I MUST BUY THIS”. That escalated. So I bought. And it’s disgustingly glorious in every way.
Bless you bloggers, and your yelling tendencies.
4. HIGHLY ILLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR
I planned to skip this one. I had an entire 8-part-apocalypse-survival plan in process to utterly avoid this book because it’s (A) by an author whose book I previously disliked, and (B) it’s about social anxiety which…I… have. I DON’T LIKE TO READ ABOUT ANXIETY BECAUSE IT GIVES ME ANXIETY. But then I broke because someone assured me it was a good representation. (And it is. Much nerd. Much banter. Much recommend.)
And what can I say? You can literally put a book in front of me while I yell “I DON’T WANT TO READ THAT” and 2.4 seconds later I’ll be eating it because I can’t help myself.
ME WITH ALL THE BOOKS I SAY I’M NOT GOING TO READ AND THEN END UP READING WHILE HOPING YOU DON’T NOTICE THAT I HAVE NO CONSISTENCY AND NO CHILL.
5. A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU
Basically #bookstagram was all over this because of the cover. And good job, sir! That cover is gorgeous! It is the kind of cover I want painted across a cake! So I can look at the cake and say “I WANT A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU” and I will not be wrong! *
I mean, the awkward part is I thought the book was horrendous. Except for the Russian bit because VIVA LA RUSSIA! ** But the cover, yes? The cover makes up for one girl racing through alternate realties to kiss multiple boys. You know what my priorities would be if I was dimension hopping? TRYING DIFFERENT DIMENSIONAL CAKE. ***
* Sometimes I wonder if I make too many cake metaphors and then I think….nah.
** I realise this is Spanish, so I’ve probably just offended 9 countries by misusing language here. But if it makes those 9 countries feel any better I only just learned that “Hachette Publishers” is not pronounced “Hatchet” like the small axe that is a very useful tool for surviving family reunions. So basically I CANNOT WORD. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE WORD. ALL WORD ARE CONFUSING TO ME.
*** It’s official. There’s no hope for me at all.
6. THE SELECTION
Because it’s famous. That is literally the only reason I picked it up. Plus the girl is wearing a gorgeous dress (we’ve established that I’m incredibly shallow when it comes to covers) and I appreciate the fact that she’s sniffing under her arms before waltzing off to make-out with a prince. Because sweat is real, peoples. Let’s acknowledge it in books and use deodorant.
ALSO I DID LIKE THIS! I haven’t read the rest of the series…but…I lowkey enjoyed it.
7. TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE
For some reason in 2015 this book was ALL OVER #BOOKSTAGRAM. So I fully blame #bookstagram for the fact that I decided to read it. And you know what? IT’S THE BEST BOOK EVER. This is coming from me! A heinous fantasy-lover. I ADORED A CONTEMPORARY AND I’M NOT ASHAMED. I ordered the sequel about ten seconds after finishing the first (which was a library book so #tragedy, but I don’t own it) and I’m so obsessed with it I was a MESS AT THE END with all my questions and feelings.
Also do you know what it’s about? DO YA? DO YA? Well, kissing boys but also — FOOD.
8. THE LOVE THAT SPLIT THE WORLD
This made quite a wild splash when it came out, because firstly: CONTROVERSY. * And secondly: look at that cover. That girl is going to make a splash when she lands no matter what. Or perhaps a splat.
Anyway, hype, you FAIL ME. I was dreadfully bored in this and napped twice.
* I still don’t really understand what the shouting was about, but that’s because sometimes I pay more attention to my rearranging my books into colour-coded lines than reading articles on the internet. I’d be sorry, but AESTHETICALLY PLEASING BOOKSHELVES, YES.
9. THE GOLDEN COMPASS
Because it’s a BANNED BOOK ACTUALLY!! And if someone says “no one should read this book because it is an abomination” you can bet your Italian noodles that I am going to be reading it. Well, actually — I listened to a dramatised audiobook and haven’t cracked open my copy at all. Which, I might add, I got for 50 cents at a library sale because goooooo me and my excellent book buying skills. ANYWAY IT’S AWESOME. I WANT A DAEMON. *
* This sounds kind of evil if you haven’t read the book, but it’s just code for “talking pet that is actually your soul or something”. Mine would be a dragon and I would name it Ferdinand and we would have ever so much fun.
10. A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC
It took me an ashamedly long time to dive into this series, which is RIDICULOUS because I’d read Vicious already and loved it. But yet it took a lot of the internet yelling before I ate it. And now look at me. I‘M AN OBSESSED EMOTIONAL MESS AND I HAVE FEELINGS. I shouldn’t have feelings. Where is my Vulcanism going?? Someone take this series away from me * before I LOSE MY MIND over my smol precious children who are very busy trying not to die and recreationally failing.
UGH I LOVE THESE BOOKS SO MUCH. The hype is perfect. The hype is truth. And if by some reason like you were recently lost in space for a long amount of time and had no WiFi connection and you missed the wild hype over this series then, here. Let me help you out: GO READ IT ASAP. **
* Wait. No. Don’t take it away from me. DON’T SEPARATE ME FROM MY FRACTURED SOUL WHICH I LEFT INSIDE THIS SERIES OR I WILL BITE.
** Plus you can always trust me because I only give the best recommendations and, coincidentally, I have the best taste. #humble I mean, seriously, if someone says they like CAKE and DRAGONS, they automatically are good people. This is me.
It is one am where I live and I am pulling an all-nighter, then my inbox dings and I see this . AHHHHHH Great post!!! – Sarah 🌙
Awww, I’M HONOURED YOU TOOK TIME TO READ/COMMENT. I appreciate it so much!! 😊😊
AHHH HYPES! They scare me and excite me at the same time. At the moment I am currently trying to convince myself to read Crooked Kingdom because I’m just too scared!! If someone loves a book and they tell me I have to read I will generally read it!! But the worst thing ever is when you don’t like the book recommended to you eeek how horrible. ALSO my current read is Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda so funny you mention it! I AM REALLY ENJOYING IT, glad you like it!
Oh it’s always kind of terrifying to be on the wrong side of the hype, right?!😂 I totally don’t get why some of these are majorly hyped because I read them and was like “YEAH AND SO WHAT” whooooops.😂 (And Simon Vs is so adorable, right?!? It was SO hyped last year it’s kind of daunting.😱)
Oh my god. I’ve only read ONE of these books. Do I have……self control? GASP!!!!
But I know the feeling. Thankfully (or not) I’m a little broke right now so it’s saving me from the hype.
SELF CONTROL?! OMG TELL ME YOUR SECRETS THEN. BECAUSE I HAVE NO SELF CONTROL AT ALL.😂
I was peer pressured to read The Selection too and I only enjoyed it a bit, I continued to read the whole series because it’s like addictive cookies saying to yourself, “just one more” before gobbling the entire batch (this may have been a real life situation). Despite being unable to escape the Schwab hype, I’ve never actually read any of her books even though I really want to *glares at the toppling TBR list*. I am such a peer pressure reader whether it’s good or bad hype, I always want to find out myself. Therein lies the problem with my exponentially growing TBR. Anna and the French Kiss was also a book that everyone (internet and real life) threw at me to read! Great list Cait 😀
oh cookies are pure evil and they basically steal your soul and control you so you HAVE to eat more than one. Is it my fault? No. It is the cookie’s. *nods wisely*
But YES! I always have to find out myself too…even if someone says a book is horrible.😂 Part of me is always like “YEAH, OK, BUT I STILL GOTTA KNOW”.😂 I’m hopeless!
When I started reading in English, I wanted to read every single ya book outthere!
When I discovered booktube, I wanted to read and BUY everysingle book outthere, and I wanted to watch book discussion for every single book I read.
But now…. for the last year (or more) I don’t even know what got into me, I just don’t read hyped books. It’s always that feel like I can read it later, then still there’s a fear of spoilers and there’s that feeling of missing out, just like you said.
I am so weird, I can’t even find the words.
I want to read so badly so many series that I didn’t even start, like Throne of Glass and Six of Craws, or Nevernight. There’s no excuse really, because those I metioned I already own, so it’s not like I have to buy them first or something…
But I’ll just mention briefly that after 2 years spent only reading ya, I started to really miss women’s and literary fiction so now I’m working on reading all of the titles I missed and the ones that are hyped right now.
I don’t know… I just wish I was one of those really fast readers who read 20 books per month, in that case I would be able to read everything I desire.
But it is what it is…. :/
Oh if you feel weird then YOU ARE AT THE RIGHT BLOG, BECAUSE WE’RE ALL WEIRD AROUND HERE. But *nods* I do understand the struggle of fitting in all the books you want to read! And hey, varying up the genres and types of books is awesome. Go you!😉 But the TRUEST bookworm problem is not being able to read everything of ever, right?!
OKAY, I know I’m partly responsible for you reading SIMON VS and HIGHLY ILLOGICAL BEHAVIOR because 1) I never shut up about the first one and 2) we talked about HIB and how the social anxiety was portrayed on the Tweets. But #noregrets because you loved both so YAY! And it’s totally okay because I read MADE YOU UP because of you so HUZZAH!
Also, long time no comment, I know. I is all the sorry but I will comment on all the posts from the last month that I haven’t commented on. PROMISE.
Oh you are behind Simon Vs too! And another friend of mine got me to try the audio book and it was 1000% wonderful!🎉 And I don’t know if you know Wesaun from Ores & Books? They totally got me to try Highly Illogical Behaviour too WHICH IS SUPER GOOD THAT I HAVE THESE GOOD FRIENDS TELLING ME WHAT TO READ.😂 And omg I’m glad you tried Made You Up because of me. :’) Mutual book-yelling abounds! *hi fives*
Omg, don’t even worry about comments.😂 I’m just glad you’re back!
Yesss ahaha I think there are more books I read because of you but my brain is swiss cheese at the moment so. XD BUT SPEAKING OF BOOK YELLING. I’m just saying, but you should keep an eye out for Becky Albertalli’s next book because OH. MAH. GAHD. It’s so good. Just saying. *stacks another book on Cait’s already dangerously towering TBR*
And I’m glad I’m back too!!
Uh huh yes I see * furiously takes notes and adds all books to TBR*. But in all seriousness I forgot about A Darker Shade of Magic and how much I realllly want to read it so thanks as always Cait for your amazing recommendations and now for being my book reminder of. Also I’m perfectly cooked lasagna thankyou very much! 😛
I am definitely here to flood your TBR with glorious books. :’) IT IS MY GOAL IN LIFE.
And also: FINE THEN, YOU LASAGNA.
I’m not a peer pressured reader. The more people tell me to read something, the less likely I am to read it…unless I was planning to already…or unless it totally sounds like my kind of thing. That said, I read Maggie Stiefvater because of you, and I’ll Give You the Sun because of you, and Ally Carter because of Jess @ My Reading Dress, so maybe I’m just a peer pressured reader in denial. 😉
N’awwww, I’m glad you gave Maggie Stiefvater a chance because of meeeeee. :’) It’s totally my goal in life to convert ALL THE MORTALS to reading Stiefvater books and flailing with me basically. So yes, I shall agree you’re a peer-pressured-rice-cooker in denial. *nods sagely* 😉😂
Great list! also read a few of these purely because of the hype: Simon (had trouble wiping the smile of my face after that one), The Selection (liked this one, the rest of the series a bit less), To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (Yes, sooo good) and A Darker Shade of Magic (OMG why didn’t I read this earlier?). Emmy and Oliver and Highly Illogical Behavor are still on my TBR, so I’m glad you liked them! And A Thousand Pieces of You and The Love That Split The World are on my TBR as well but I’ve heard mixed reviews so I’m procrastinating them for an indefinite amount of time 😉
Oh I was grinning SO MUCH reading Simon’s!!😂 IT’S TOO CUTE THO. And the sequel to All the Boys juuuust arrived and I’m ridiculously excited to read it *screeches from the rooftops* And SAME about ADSOM. I am monstrously displeased at myself for taking so long to devour them because they. are. so. good. Schwab is basically a writing genius.
Also good luck with A Thousand Pieces of You and The Love That Split the World.😂 I feel like I’m mostly an oddball when it comes to them?! So maybe you’ll do better!!
I was peer pressured into reading 90% of the books I’ve ever read, Like An Ember in the Ashes(which I liked, but didn’t love. The sequel, however, was so much better and it blew my mind) Red Queen, which I adored, and lots of others.
I guess you could say I am a 100% a peer-pressured reader. If other people are saying something is super good and I’ll love it, I am 99% likely to pick it up. (I just noticed all those percentages…..*sighs is exasperation*
Oh wow, this makes me want to try the sequel to An Ember in the Ashes then! I really didn’t like the first book hahah…it just was too illogical to me? But if the sequel is better…WELL. We’ve established I have zero self-control when it comes to books. I JUST WANT TO READ THEM ALL.
Oh your maths is as good as mine. *mathematically incorrect hi five*
hi! I just started reading your posts. you’re really weird, like reading, cake, and dragons. time to add you to my favorite blog list! 😀 <3
Most crazily, ~Olive
WELL THIS JUST MAKES MY DAY. THANK YOU, OLIVE. 😊 Cake for you! And welcome to the maddness…I hope I don’t scare you away.😂
Omg that Kung Fu Panda gif 😂😂 it’s so accurate it hurts! Also, “you undercooked lasagne” – Cait, I think this need to be a new design for your Society6 shop. ALSO, how *is* “Hachette” pronounced?! I assume it’s just “Ha-sh-et”?
I think I’m quite like you when it comes to contemporaries. I have a copy of Aristotle and Dante on my shelf LITERALLY just because everyone else was reading it. I’m sure I’ll get to it one day. But YAS Simon vs is my Bae and thank god the internet forced that upon me (and same story for Lara Jean). I think my next peer pressure read will either be a Colleen Hoover book or a VE Schwab. Tough choice.
Oh yes yes, wait till I bring out a whole line of Societ6 items with just food insults on them. IT’LL BE BESTSELLING AND I’LL BE RICH TBH. Also I think that’s how you actually spell hachette?? I watched a video on youtube about it after I was talking about Hachette to my parent and she’s like “say wut now”. AND I THINK IT’S DISAPPOINTING THAT IT’S NOT PRONOUNCED LIKE THE WEAPON?!??
Ari & Dante is GORGEOUS, by the way. I’ll just add to the crippling pressure that you should read it.😉 PICK SCHWAB NEXT THOUGH. SCHWAB IS BEST.
I feel like ALL the books I read are either because of hype/other bloggers raving about them (AKA Cait in all caps). And sometimes those don’t quite work for me, but most of the time it’s spot-on! (btw I FINALLY read The Scorpio Races after all this time and yes, you were totally right. Amazing book.)
AHHHHH THANKYOU. I’m here to make sure everyone is drowning in book recommendations.😂 Mwahahha. Ahem. AND OMG I’M GLAD I CONVERTED YOU TO THE SCORPIO RACES. At least 3 people have told me in this post that they read TSR because of me. I feel so accomplished omg.😊
I would love to have a daemon too! I can’t think of any animal I would want to have though. A dragon sounds cool, but I want something I can bring around easily and cuddle and stuff. Maybe a fluffy mini dragon? Are there fluffy mini dragons in existence? Because if there aren’t any, I’m totally going to write a book about them just to make them real.
Oh dear, I really loved A Thousand Pieces of You’s cover, but I haven’t read it yet. What if I don’t like it too? OMG. That cover though…
Like a small pocket dragon!! One that could sit on your shoulder *nods* because then it would be easily portable but also could cook you toast. #winning (ALSO YES GO WRITE THIS BOOK.)
Fell prey to hype more than once…hence, after suffering too many broken heart issues that are not covered by insurance, I no longer get into hype…
Aww, that’s too bad! But still that’s fine because hyped books aren’t for everyone, right?!😂
😛
Lara Jean is SO CUTE. And she’s totally believably as a teenage girl, too! Sometimes I feel like authors write teenagers as twenty-somethings, but Lara Jean is cute and awkward and naive. And it totally wasn’t a book I thought I’d end up liking but I did.
AND SIMON. Becky Albertalli needs to write all the books so that I can read them. I think I’d fight someone for a copy of Upside of Unrequited.
Eeep, she is SO CUTE. And yes that’s so true…she actually felt like a very realistic/believable teen. And idek, I mostly read books where the teens are very stabby😂 so it was SO CUTE how fluffy and cute she was. ALL THE LOVE FOR LARA JEAN AND I SHIP HER AND PETER WAY TOO MUCH OMG.
I don’t think I’ve read a book purely because of hype. I try to avoid hype, but I was pressured into reading the Twilight books by my friends. My librarian has pressured me to buy books to read, but I still haven’t gotten around to them.
That’s fair! Hype isn’t for everyone, hhahaa, and it can be daunting right?! 😱 SO many expectations!
I still want to read The Golden Compass. In a way I find it hard to believe it’s banned, and then in a way, not so much! HAHA. I also need to start A Darker Shade of Magic. Aaaarrrggghhh, why are there so many good looking books out there!!!!!
Omg book banning makes NO SENSE. It’s just annoying, tbh. But there’s anti-Christian religious messages in there, isn’t there? I can’t even remember.😂 I just know it’s so stupid it was banned!
OK, but yes obviously I give in to peer pressure because I just put all of these on my Goodreads to-read shelf (except ADSOM because for once in my life I was ahead of the curve & a peer pressure-er on that one). HELP.
YOU’RE WELCOME. I shall just quietly hope your TBR doesn’t fall on your head now.😂
Ahhh. The HYPE. Yes….. I know it well.
The stupidest thing is that even if a book is hyped and then I see bad reviews for it I STILL want to read it myself because…. I’m an idiot like that. You’d think Stealing Snow would have been lesson learned, right???
The funny thing is though I’ve managed to avoid most of these on your list – I’m just not a Contemporary girl!!!! I might have to try one or two of the better ones you have mentioned though. Because, you know, HYPE!!!!! Plus it’s just not cool to be the only person on the planet who hasn’t read a particular book!
I’m the same.😂 And YES to Stealing Snow…omg. But to be fair I was sent a review-copy so I felt beholden to read it despite the raging reviews already pouring in. *buries self 9ft under snow so never has to think about that book again*
And another hilarious thing is I’m not generally a contemporary reader either! Which is why this post is full of contemporaries because I’m usually the one yelling at other people to read my favourite fantasies.😂
Thanks to your post, I’ll have to add a few more books to my To-Be-Read list! :p
OH GOODIE. My job here is done then. 😉
I really appreciate that you appreciate the covers of books, because it means I get to scroll through your gloriously colourful and organized posts and see ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL BOOKS. It’s like going to a bookshelf and NEVER having to look at a poorly designed cover!! #heaven
Anyhoo. So much thank you from my book-starved soul!
YOU ARE MOST WELCOME FOR MY SHALLOWNESS.😂 But seriously, good covers are a must, right?!? I spend more time looking at them than reading them, ergo I demand they please my eyeballs.
I THOUSAND PERCENT AGREE WITH YOU ON A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU. (Well that rhymes😂👏) I have read To all the boys I’ve loved before also, just give all the love to it. SERIOUSLY IT HAS SO MUCH FOOD IN IT. Tbh, we all are shallow people and judge books by their covers, (plus BOOKSTAGRAM. This is literally killing two birds with one book. I have modified the idiom.😂) I mean I won’t read a book that has a bad cover instead of one that has a great one. But sometimes covers do fool us.😢 NOT OKAY. And the dresses on the covers for the selection series are THE BEST. Great post though!!!❤️😉
*applauds for rhyming genius* And omg To All the Boys is like foodie HEAVEN. I basically was gnawing on the cover while I read it.😍 And I’m sure that’s why it got aaaaall the stars from me. BECAUSE FOOD. And bahaha, YES, bookstagram has just made cover judging escalate hugely. But, like, I still have no regrets. Because pretty covers.
I haven’t commented on your blog in FOREVER Cait!!! What have I been DOING with my life?!?!?! I missed you so much I’m sorry! Bookstagram is all consuming if you know what I mean. Plus life and adult responsibilities just ugh.
I am so glad that I am not the only one who does peer pressure reading!!! XD Yet somehow I still fall behind all the new awesome books that everyone else is reading. It’s hard to keep up, you know?!
*gasp* Lasagna Cait?! The Doctor told us to never be lasagna! Don’t worry I will never be an undercooked lasagna especially toward you Cait dear.
THAT’S OKAY, EM, I’LL GIVE YOU WELCOME BACK CAKE SO THAT MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER. And omg bookstagram IS consuming. But worth it. Because books.😍
It’s like impossible to keep up. I read 200+ books a year and I’M STILL BEHIND?!?!? It’s not fair, omg. Someone pls stop time so I can just catch up dangit. And I’m glad you’re not going to be undercooked lasagna. There is nothing worse, truly.
I don’t think I even realize how many books I’m reading based on recommendations since blogging. I feel like EVERY book I read a blogger has mentioned/recommended nowadays!
That’s probably me too honestly.😂 The only time I read books that haven’t been recommended (or at least I haven’t seen online!) are like unsolicited ones from publishers. 😂
I also read Simon Vs because people kept telling me to read it. At first I was like, eww romance. No. But, I ended up loving the book. I guess it’s good to listen to people sometimes.
Saaaame! Like I’m totally not a romance fan, but it was SO CUTE AND SQUISHY.😊
I read Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda for exactly the same reason and I am so glad that I did!
SO SO CUTE!! EEEP. *squishes it with happy feels*
Highly Illogical Behavior was great, I only just read it a couple days ago. Adorable as hell. Also the His Dark Materials trilogy (the golden compass) is MY 100X FAVE IN THE WORLD. I hope you read the rest of them because they’re so great. Made You Up is pretty high up on my TBR, I’m looking forward to getting around to that.
Yesss, Highly Illogical Behaviour WAS SO CUTE. 😍 And I will definitely read the rest of the Dark Materials!! It’s just on the (endless) TBR but like I need to know how it all ends. EEEP.
Aghhhh yes Hype :O
I really try to be careful with book hype now because I had SO MANY disappointments! Mainly YA fantasy 🙁
I guess it doesn’t help that I’ve been reading adult fantasy ever since I was quite young, so now YA fantasy sometimes feel too… easy? Like when the story actually only revolves around a love story and weak worldbuilding. But thankfully sometimes some gems come my/our way!
I read Victoria Schwab’s books because of the hype and do not regret it at all <3 But I regret Snow like ashes, and also the love that split the world, so bored too, couldn't finish!
Great post and great pics as usual *_*
Ugh I hear you with the YA fantasy….it used to be my FAVOURITE genre of ever, but now it’s really disappointing me?!? Either the quality has gone down or my expectations are rising.😂 And I’ve been moving into adult fantasy a bit more too and falling completely in love. AHHHH.
But omg I’m glad you were bored in The Love That Split The World too because I NEARLY FELL ASLEEP and yet everyone loves it?! Whaaaat did I miss??
I tend to let myself be pressured to read books. And it’s one of those things where 80% of the time I know I’m not going to like the book but everyone’s like “read the book!” so I do. Sometimes I like it, most times I don’t. Seems like you’ve fared better? 😀
And sometimes it’s worth reading it just to shut everyone up, right?!?😂 But YES! It’s always hit-or-miss but it’s worth it when the book is brilliant and the hype was right!
I’ve definitely read a lot of books purely because they were hyped so much. The Selection is one for me as well. Some others are Me Before You, Ugly Love, and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. I think I get peer pressured into trying books a lot, but I’m okay with it! I’ve found some duds (Red Queen for me) that way, but I’ve also found a lot of books that I never would have tried before. Great post. :o)
Oh I want to read Me Before You purely because of the hype!! And I will…EVENTUALLY. hahha. I’m a complete sucker and I’m totally okay with that. (Awk, you didn’t like Red queen either? HI FIVE.😂 I’m actually confused why that one is so famous?!? It’s so cliche.😕)
I read Harry Potter because my sister forced me. She told me I had to finish the series before the Deathly Hallows pt.1 movie came out. I read up to the 5th book and then quit the entire series. I’ve seen all the other Harry Potter movies, so it felt boring, I knew everything that was going to happen. I read Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda because of hype, and I kept seeing advertising for it and it wore me down. If I see something enough times I say “fine okay, I’LL READ IT!” Then next time I see it I can say “I read it.” or “I gave it a try.” I don’t usually fall so easily to peer pressure though. I read The Selection by accident, I was clicking around on the kindle library and I saw the cover and was like I’m going to check this out.(P.S. I love that my library has a kindle library) I never would have thought I liked it as much as I did. I haven’t read all the books on your list, but I gave most of them a try (I just didn’t finish them).
I felt like I knew EVERYTHING that’d happen in HP too just because of the sheer amount of spoilers everywhere. I mean, I guess it’s fair? It’s been out for a while…but stiiiill. People aren’t shy about slathering HP spoilers at every opportunity.😑
Oh kindle libraries are BRILLIANT! Do you use overdrive? My library has a pretty sucky collection but I live in hope they’ll update! It’s so convenient for audiobooks.
Where did you find that cover of A Darker Shade of Magic? They only have weird covers on Amazon. 🙁
Ahh, omg I’m trying to think. I believe one was on Book depository? The other I bought off a small Aussie retail store.
Hi Cait,
My names Gill and i’ve just discovered your blog, where the heck have i been all this time, its wonderful. I too am always buying books coz i dont wanna feel left out. The best one i guess was The Fault in our Stars which i adored, so it does sometimes work as you say.
I blog over at http://www.bookmagpie.uk if you fancy popping over and chatting about books.
Gill x
Hi Gill!! WELCOME TO THE MADNESS OF PAPERFURY! *gives you welcome cake* 🎉🍰 And I’m so glad you love TFIOS too. That book was gorgeous and heart wrenching and fakdfads I shall never recover basically.
If I am being completely honest I am 1000% a peer-pressure reader. I literally only read Six of Crows because of you and I suppose that I now have you to thank for the heaping mess it has turned me into. I have died and come back and died again D: ANYWAYS IT IS NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT IT DID NOT FAIL ME. Also amaze is not a good enough word. It blinded me, whisked me off…!!! lsjföoijesljföwowjsliej. That is it.
*HI FIVES* We can be peer-pressured little potatoes together then. And omg I’m sooo glad I converted you to Six of Crows. MY GOAL IN LIFE IS TO HAVE EVERYONE DESTROYED BY IT BASICALLY. Go read Crooked Kingdom…*laughs evilly* then you’ll REALLY come after me and smack me with a cake pop.
Most hypey (is that a word?) books don’t work for me. The only exceptions I can think of at the moment are Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke & Bone series and Lauren Oliver’s Before I Fall. Hype usually raises my expectations way too high. I don’t know why it should; you’d think I would’ve learned by now that I usually don’t like over-hyped books!
If “Hypey” isn’t a word it should be *nods*. It seems like a very usefully glorious word. And omg actually I want to read Before I Fall so much because of you. AND omg that time travel book….argh what is the title. I’m having a very embarrassing mind-blank. But something about Yesterdays. All our Yesterdays??? THAT’S IT RIGHT? Anyway. I WANT TO READ THAT BECAUSE YOU BLOGGED ABOUT IT!
I am definitely a peer pressured reader! I’m eating Maggie Stiefvater’s books and LOVING them because of YOUR delinquent potato actions.
AFJDAKSLFDSAJ THIS IS LITERALLY THE BEST COMMENT OF EVER. I’M SO HAPPY I CAN ONLY FLAIL!!!
I think we’re all suckers for peer pressure as book bloggers because who can resist a good book rec?! I read His Dark Materials but it wasn’t recommended to me…unless you count GR itself putting it in my recs. ADSOM was auto-read for me because I’d read Vicious and LOVED IT. So then all the Schwab became a must. I haven’t read any of the others here but I don’t even want to look them up because then I’ll need to do another TTT post with only CAIT BOOK RECS XD
AGREED. And plus like it’s “book blogging” like code for “here give me book recommendations so my TBR grows 9ft and falls on my head”??? I’m pretty sure that’s the expanded term. *nods*
Schwab is an auto-buy author for me now. omg. SHE IS PERFECT.
AND YES CAIT RECS ARE PERFECTION. #legit
I don’t care for a lot of recently witten books. I really hate any sort of cussing, and I don’t like a bunch of romance and THAT’S BASICALLY ALL THERE IS!!!! There is also horror, which I have yet to try, (kinda scared to, honestly) and….. yeah I dunno. (Kinda wierd, I ADORED To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, but it had cussing and that was a bit hard to read. But at the same time, Laura Jean hates cussing to, so TWINS right there! But Peter needs his mouth washed out with soap. Aaaand basically everyone else too, I guess. Ahem.) So, I try to stay away from anywhere I can get dragged into reading books. I am sure I would be an easy target. The only people who introduce me to books are my siblings and occasionaly my friends (inluding you, highness), so I have never been peer pressured into it. Except that one time.. Okay, a couple of times.. Fine, more than that, but STILL.
I think being a peer pressured reader sort of goes along with being a book blogger, which I am not, (sad day. I should be, but I have a henious monster of a tbr and I have a feeling it will only get bigger if I do) so I will have to give you consolation cakes instead. There there! You aren’t alone.
~E
scribblingpencils.blogspot.com
Do you mean swearing and romance are all there is in recently written books? Woah, we must read very different books then! 😂 I frequently read books without much romance and limited/no swearing. 😀 I didn’t even notice that much swearing in To All the Boys, but I guess I don’t notice it because I don’t have a problem with it. SO EACH TO THEIR OWN! I’M TOTALY OKAY WITH THAT. 🙂
But duuude, if you come to be a book blogger your TBR will EXPLODE. It will. Pre-book-blogging I actually could see, like, the top of my bookshelf. Now it’s covered in unread books. DO I WEEP OR FLAIL?? Because at least I can build a book fort soon??😂
I read books because of the hype all the time! Basically for all the reasons you already said – if this many people are talking about it, it’s got to be good, right? And I don’t want to miss out. I read The Wrath & the Dawn entirely because of the hype and I LOVED it!
Sooooo many of the books on your list are books I love (Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) or books I REALLY need to get to and that I’m kind of ashamed of not having read yet (especially A Darker Shade of Magic and Made You Up). But A Darker Shade of Magic is one of my top priority books right now! Although considering how dramatically my reading has slowed down, that pretty much just means that there’s a reasonable chance I’ll get to it before the end of the year.
YESSSS. *hyped hi five* I mean, we gotta know. We can’t just sit here and WONDER. I must have answers. *devours all the hyped books at dawn* And TW&TD is pure perfection. I love that book!!
Duuude, you must try ADSOM!! And then if you love it come flail with me and weep because the cliffhangers are always agony with that series. GORGEOUS AGONY. But hey! There’s still a bit of time left in this year…
Wait, Hachette is not pronounced “Hatchet?” – MY WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN A LIE. *flails*
And EEK, I can’t believe you enjoyed To All the Boys I Loved Before!!! You need to read her Summer trilogy – I LOVE IT MUCHLY. I so badly want to read Emmy & Oliver after reading your review and I’m dying to read V.E. Schwab’s books too as I’ve heard SUCH GOOD THINGS.
I KNOW. MINE HAS BEEN A LIE TOO.😭 I’m now never saying any publishers names again because my confidence is shattered. *whines piteously*
OH OH I WILL READ ALL THE JENNY HAN BOOKS NOW. See that’s how obsessed I am.😂 And I don’t even know what to do with myself because I can read Game of Thrones and love it to pieces…and then go read pure fluff like To All The Boys and ADORE IT JUST AS MUCH. WHAT IS MY LIFE.
I’m not really a peer pressure reader. If everyone is talking about a book I may look it up. Then id it sounds like a book I might like I put it on my Want to Read list. Where it stays until I can get my hands on it without spending much (or any) money.
I read Pride and Predudice because it seems everyone reads it and I want to figure out why. And I did read (Skim) Lord of the Rings to see what was so wonderful about Tolkien’s writing style. After I had told people I wasn’t going to read it just because they said.I wasn’t in the mind for a book of that sort at the time. I’m probably going to finish it on audio eventually.
And there was another series which everyone was recommending and I kind of ignored. When I finally did read some, I decided they weren’t exaggerating them.
The best way to get me to read a book is to give it to me. And even then I might not. Probably will, but IDNF a book a friend gave and hated the other one.
This is why I ADORE libraries.😂 I basically get all my books from libraries or publishers because hhaha #BrokeBookworm Oh but I actually want to finish LOTR with audio too someday!! I read the first one but…it just kind of fell on my head and didn’t stick AT ALL. But I don’t like to be conquered by a book bahah, so yes. Audio sounds like a good idea.
MUAH I LOVE THIS POST SO MUCH I ACTUALLY DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY NOW THAT I HAVE REACHED THE END. Okay so…I basically only read books that I here copious people flail over??? SO HI WE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT WHAT DO YA KNOW ABOUT THAT. also I’ve said this a million times but your posts ALWAYS make me laugh out loud multiple times without fail. xD YOU ARE FABULOUS OK <3 tbh I think I would rather look at the back of a shampoo bottle than the cover of Emmy and Oliver :'') AND I WOULD LIKE A CAKE WITH THAT OTHER BOOK COVER ON IT BECAUSE #AESTHETIC <3 yaaaas. and now I am reduced to saying "other book cover" because my dog is sitting on my lap and making it hard to type.
LOVE THIS LOVE YOU BYE
WOOOO WE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT!! *hi fives* I hope it’s a big boat because we obviously are bringing a lot of books on this voyage. HAHAHH I’M SO FUNNY IT’S HILARIOUS.😂 (Ahem. I am not, but be patient with me.) But zomg, I’m really glad my posts make you laugh. :’) Sometimes I wonder if everyone is reading this and thinking “what is this woman on about” SO KNOWING THEY MAKE YOU LAUGH IS VERY ENCOURAGING. THANK YOU.
I understand the struggle of dogs getting between you and typing. My dog likes to sit on my hands if I’m typing on my laptop. This makes for…ver interesting sentences.
First, all of your posts are the absolute best! I love them! Second, about half the books I read are recommended by others. I just finished We We Liars yesterday, and it was recommended to me. OH DID I LOVE IT. Such an interesting story! Anyways, several of the books you listed I have heard of and will be adding to my ever present TBR. Thanks for another wonderful post! 🙂
OMG THIS MAKES ME VERY HAPPY. THANK YOU. CAKE FOR YOU. ALL THE CAKE FOR YOU. Ahhh, I nearly put We Were Liars on this post actually! It is soooooo good and soooo devastating. (Why does that combination work? omg. I’m crying just remembering it.)
It’s funny how many of these are contemporaries, LOL. (A genre I generally tend to avoid because I live in present day and well…I LIVE HERE. I’m petulant like that. 😛 ) But seriously, I think you and booklr will be pressuring me into the Darker Shade of Magic fandom soon. Six of Crows, too, that looks awesome. I tend to get overwhelmed with recs because there are SO MANY BOOKS and I know I will die without reading them unless I do manage to find the fountain of youth soon, haha.
See, but this is because I’m always devouring fantasies and yelling at everyone to read them and barely EVER going near contemporaries…so people have to thump me over the head with the good contemporaries so I actually read them.😜) BUT OH GOOD. If I get you reading ADSOM then my job here WILL BE DONE. (Mwahah, #kidding. It’ll just have started. *piles all the Schwab books on your head*)
Funnily enough, I’m usually the opposite kind of reader – the more a book is hyped, the less likely I am to read it. I think I’ve been disappointed too many times! 😉
That’s fair! Hype can backfire majorly sometimes.😜
I feel like everyone is peer pressured into reading. That is partially what the blogging community is for! I don’t think I would have read The Hunger Games if it wasn’t for peer pressure and then where would I be. 😉 haha
Very very true *nods* I mean we’re all here to yell at each other to read specific books right?!? And omg, I’M VERY GLAD YOU WERE PRESSURED INTO THE HUNGER GAMES THEN!! My sister told me to read it, so bless her. She’s the reason I’m into YA.😂
Hey, I was just peer pressured into Made You Up and I actually have it from the library right now! 😀 So I will get to that soon. Simon was another good one to be hyped into. It was sweet and lovely. The only one I really regret was ADSOM because I was actually bored, but that is just me. THE OTHERS CAN STILL BE GOOD.
OH GOOD. I hope you like Made You Up!! But omg BORED with ADSOM?!?!??!? See that puddle on the floor? THAT IS MY BROKEN HEART.💔💔💔
haha, just kidding.😂 I understand not all books are for everyone! BUT YAY that we agree on Simon’s adorableness too!
Your book photography is gorgeous!! I love your #bookstagram, there’s nothing quite so lovely as artful pictures of books. 😛 It seems like The Selection made everybody’s list this linkup, including mine, everyone was recommending the book to me and yes it had a pretty cover, so… 🙂 Actually you were the person who got me to read The Raven Cycle (thank yoooouuuu, it’s lovely and beautifully written and I could sing its praises for days!) and Throne of Glass. I’m less in love with Throne of Glass now but now I can understand your worship of Maggie Stiefvater… 😀
AHHH THANK YOU. <3 That means so much to me omg. (And Bookstagram completely changed EVERYTHING for me hahah...like book photos. Everywhere. Yes please.😍)
OMG I'M TO BLAME FOR YOU READING THE RAVEN CYCLE?!? This is a most GLORIOUS day.🎉🎉🎉🎉 Maggie Stiefvater's words are just GORGEOUS like I can't get enough of them no matter how many of her books I read!!
100% YES! I tend to read popular books because I want to know what the hype is all about! Sometimes I’m let down, but most times not. Popular books are usually popular for a reason. Maybe being peer pressured is good? 🙂
~Sara
I totally agree!! I know hyped books can get a super bad rap….buuuut, hey sometimes people KNOW WHAT’S UP when they all rave about a book!! I think I have more successes than horrors.😊
I still need to read Made You Up and Emmy & Oliver, as well as some other books on your list. I’ve heard great things in the blogging world too. 🙂 I HAVE read Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda though and that is amazing. One of my favorites.
Simon Vs is just sooo cute. I’m so glad I caved to the hype on that!! and Made You Up is TOTALLY WORTH IT I promise!!
I’ve only read 2 books on this list… but I’ve bought and borrowed more than 5. XD I think that accurately describes my reading habits. (Totally should be studying right now… *nervously laughs until homework is due*)
SAME THO.😂 You should see my TBR (omg no you shouldn’t…it might fall on you and take you out along with me) but point is: iT’S UNREASONABLY FULL OF BOOKS I’VE GOT BECAUSE OF HYPE. I have problems.😂
ALL OF THE HYPE. Or in my case all of the CAPS? I’ve read lots of books due to hype, but have so many more that I NEED to READ >.< Like Vicious and all of her other Schwab fabulousness books (except for This Savage Song and A Darker Shade of Magic which I have read due to HYPE!). I tried Truthwitch lately and just couldn't get into it? But so many bloggers love it with THE SUGAR OF A THOUSAND CAKES! (Also all of the cake references = one happy reader here *insert laugh emoji that is beyond my skills to add into a caption*)
yesssss, you must try Vicious!! And did you like ADSOM?!? BECAUSE I’M HERE TO FLAIL IF YOU DID AND THEN EAT CAKE AND CRY BECAUSE IT’S MANGLING MY EMOTIONS. (Hmm, I think my all caps key got stuck.😂 Hahha just kidding. That’s how it always is.)
But omg I’m with you on Truthwitch. What even was that. It just was so confusing and had no magic system and no world building and nope nope nope. The hype burned me on that one.😂
OKAY SO I HAVE TO ASK: I am an ignorant walnut and am confused by the Vulcanism stuff. Is it a Star Trek reference??? I have not watched that so I wouldn’t know. What does this mean? IT SOUNDS LIKE A TERM I MUST NEEDS STEAL.
Lol, when you said “viva la Russia”, my thought sequence was literally this:
Me: Um, that’s a phrase in like *three* different languages, none of them Russian
Me: Wait…
Me: WHAT DOES IT EVEN MATTER?!? Moving forward…
Also me: AM PANICKING!!!! HACHETTE PUBLISHERS ISN’T PRONOUNCED LIKE THE WEAPON?!?! My world is falling to pieces!
So yes, rest assured that you are not the only one in ignorance on this part. I just learned it from you. Cait = #educational.
Omg, I love your cake references! Bring on the cake! Make us hungry! Yes yes! Also dragons. I like dragons.
Hyped books… It depends on the book. Fortunately I am not plugged into the right circles for constant shouting about various books for the most part, or otherwise I suspect I WOULD be a pressured rice cooker meself… BUT EVEN IN MY CORNER OF THE WORLD, THERE WAS NO ESCAPING HARRY POTTER. I read that for pure hype reasons. And I was soooo disappointed… ALTHOUGH! I did only read the first one, and when I flipped through the rest of the series some of the later ones looked more promising (book 7 especially), and my cousin tells me I have to stick it out till book 4 before it really gets good. Buuutt I don’t have the patience for a series that I have to wait several books to really enjoy it so… Yeah. Anyway. In other news, I will be reading both The Raven Cycle and The Scorpio Races because of hype. And you, obviously. #CaitIsAlwaysRight
ALSO! I think you should have a movie about you and your pet dragon thing: “Ferdinand And Cait: the epic bloody adventure of a deathtime!” Something like that. It’d be cool and cute and bloody and terrifying and sassy and stabby and feels-smashing. And also involve lots of cake and food and eating; feasts or something. Muahahaha!! Anyway…
ON A COMPLETELY SEPARATE NOTE: I must needs ask (I know how you feel about book recommendations BUT I AM MUCHLY CURIOUS/DYING TO SHARE THIS ONE WITH YOUR DARK SOUL) if you’ve read Adam Gidwitz’s Grimm series?!? They’re fairytale retellings that are adapted from the Brothers Grimm versions and made more bloody/stabby (what he calls “the awesome parts” 😉). They are for kids (10-12 ish?), but I laughed so hard all the way through them I hurt so bad! It was like a real ab workout just reading. And there was even a part that was slightly more gruesome/bloody/dark than I generally like (I was like, YOU’RE GIVING THIS TO *KIDS*?!?!). ANYWAY, just thought I’d throw that out there in case you’re interested (unless you’ve already read them 😮).
I am the same way about reading things even if I don’t want to!!! Like, I was patting myself on the back for a good week after RESISTING the book my brother had checked out from the library that was further on in the series we were reading and that he said was awful. I didn’t read it! I RETURNED IT UNREAD TO THE COCKLES OF LIBRARY DOOM, LOOK AT ME BEING AWESOME AND SELF-CONTROLLED! Ugh, but it was so hard. So yes, I am the sort who wil kick and scream and throw a fit and read that stupid book. Because it has two covers and pages in between. I am not self-controlled. HELLO, my name is Kat, I am a bookdragon and I have issues. 😱😈
Yes! Any Vulcan references are definitely from Star Trek.😉 AND OMG YOU MUST WATCH THE MOVIES AT LEAST!! I actually haven’t watched the originals, but the movies are my favourite thing of everrrr. Anyway it just means someone who’s rather unemotional and blunt.😂 Aka me.
YEAH WE CAN ALL ASSUME I DON’T KNOW WHAT LANGUAGE IS.😂 I’m pretty sure all the Russians died at that. I’M TERRIBLE.
And actually *whispers* I read Harry Potter as an adult and I’m not enamoured with it either?? I mean, I LOVE the last book and I adore Hogwarts! But I think I knew too many spoilers and it was just not as good as the hype lead me to believe. Hehhhh. *glances around for the HP fans standing by to attack* I think I would’ve loved it a LOT better if I’d been younger reading it thougH? BUT I AM A SLYTHERIN SO. THAT MAKES SENSE. Because dragons, yes? 🐉🐉🐉
But yesss, read ALL THE STIEFVATER. Cait is right. Cait is wise. Cait is wonderful.
Also no?! I haven’t heard of this Grimm series but it sounds FANTASTIC AND JUST MY THING. (It’s like you know me or something.😂) I’m going to go see if my library has it because #NEED.
Congrats on your show of self control though *nods* I have none. So I don’t even know what “bookish self control” is really. I JUST PRETEND MAYBE I DO KNOW BUT I DON’T.
I feel like a pretty solid chunk of books I read were based solely on people making me do it. So, I am sad that you didn’t like TLTSTW, but alas, not all books are for all people. I feel the same way you did about A Thousand Pieces of You, and yet… I oddly REALLY want to read the next one, so I think I have problems. I even pre-ordered the 3rd one! Seriously, that isn’t normal. I think the covers made me do it more than peer pressure. I like your cover for Emmy & Oliver much better than ours- I mean, they’re the same levels of boring, but your colors are prettier? Oh, and YAY for Made You Up! I love that one! I still need to read AGOS, so maybe that will be my next peer pressure read 😉
THAT’S BECAUSE THE COVERS ARE GORGEOUS FOR A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU SERIES.😍 I want to buy the sequel and I didn’t even like the first one. What’s wrong with me?? What is this life. HALP, SHANNON, I DON’T MAKE SENSE. I think we’re in good company with each other anyway at least. *nods*
Eeep, I prefer the US cover for Emmy & Oliver. Let’s swap countries for a minute shall we?😂
And I’m like 87% sure you’re Shattering Stigmas event last year was why I picked up Made You Up!!
I couldn’t even focus on the list because the pictures you’ve taken are #3gorgeous5me. ♥_♥
*makes note to self* : GET AROUND TO READING SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA and GATHERING OF SHADOWS.
YES PLEASE DO READ BOTH OF THOSE IMMEDIATELY THO BECAUSE THEY ARE LIFE. Also omg, thank you about the photos. <3 😂 YOU ARE SO NIIIICE.
I’m quite very proud to say that I do not let peer pressure get to me. Ahem. Well, not very much. I admit there have been times when I’ve caved in and picked up a book just because I can’t bear not knowing what the hype is all about- I AM human after all- but most of the time, I only read a book ONLY if I really truly feel like it. I totally agree with you here, though. Gorgeous covers aside, other bookworms gushing about books can definitely make one pick up a book. I’m quite surprised to see all the contemporary books in your list! I haven’t read ANY of these except Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda and The Selection, both of which I loved. I really do need to get to some of these books soon. Great post, as always, Cait! 🙂
You’re MUCH stronger than me.😂 Basically if someone says “hey there’s this book” I’ve already packed my bags and am moving to the library to wait in line for it. I’M SO HOPELESS IT’S EMBARRASSING. Ahem.
And yes, omg, aren’t you proud of me?!? SO MUCH CONTEMPORARY. I think sometimes I really appreciate them as a break from all my incredibly stabby fantasy books.😂
“I appreciate the fact that she’s sniffing under her arms before waltzing off to make-out with a prince. Because sweat is real, peoples. Let’s acknowledge it in books and use deodorant.” – BWHAHAHA! Hilarious. And true.
My TTT
I’M GLAD YOU APPRECIATE MY DERANGED SENSE OF HUMOUR.😂
Lovely post, Cait! I really like the quality of your posts. I’m definitely not a pressured reader…I usually pick book myself and I’m the one who decides whether I like them or not. (Example: Harry Potter…my friends want me to read it and I refused for the longest time before finally trying it,, but I just can’t get into it.)
I look forward to more posts! 😀
~Grace <3
AHHH THANK YOU, GRACE! That is so nice, omg, I might just blush and flail like a dilapidated squid right now. :’)
Aww, you’re sooo welcome!
A house made of chocolate reminds me of the prince in Charlie and the Chocolate factory who has Willy Wonka build him a palace out of chocolate and it melts in the hot Indian sun hahahah.
I’m sometimes a peer pressure reader. I definitely get curious about hype, both if everyyyyone is reading it and more specifically if my friends who have similar taste to me read and love it. On the flipside, sometimes hype scares me away i.e. I still need to read These Broken Stars, Six of Crows, Illuminae, zomg.
Simon was one of my pressure reads too haha!! It wasn’t on my radar and everyone yelled enough that i got it and fell in LOVE. YAY FOR BOOK YELLING.
Yeah I read The Selection bc famous. I liken it to reading a celebrity magazine- entertaining but not necessarily good hahah. That goes for the whole series.
I haven’t read the Lara Jean sequel yet!!! I need to. I heard mixed things and got scared away.
THE GOLDEN COMPASS. aka my sister’s favorite book/series in the universe and I borrowed it from her and still don’t know if I could emotionally handle a reread.
omg I still haven’t read ADSOM or the first book… in fact I’ve only read one Victoria Schwab book…. the hype is REAL. But you are persuasive 😉
YES I WANT TO LIVE IN THAT HOUSE WILLA WONKA MADE. Although I would’ve eaten it too, not just sat there pretending to live in it in India. I mean, where was that prince’s brain?! SHEESH. Or actually, why didn’t Willy Wonka invent non-melting chocolate? I HAVE ALL THESE QUESTIONS, DANGIT, ROALD DAHL.😂
Hype sometimes is scary!! I have Nevernight to read and that was soooo hyped and I still can’t bring myself to start it.😂
OMG I HOPE THE LARA JEAN SEQUEL IS GOOD BECAUSE I NEED TO KNOW WHO GETS TOGETHER OR I WILL EXPLODE. And omg this all reminds me that I should finish the Golden Compass series. My #1 bookworm shame is never finishing series hehehe.
Great post! I am the same with the hype. I say I’ll resist and then… and then… I’m reading all the books. I totally agree on Simon and To All The Boys…
Thanks for stopping by my TTT!
They are so squishily ADORABLE. I think they’re also a nice change for me because I read so many stabby books.😂
I have read no book purely because of hype. Ha ha. In fact I usually go running and screaming in the opposite direction… ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
If I keep seeing a hyped book cropping up with good reviews a year or two later, like with Uprooted, and at least a couple of those reviews are by bloggers I trust, I will usually pick it up. If it goes on ebook special that makes it even more if a sure thing.
If my blogging buddies keep hitting me over the head with a book, like you, Shannon, Elizabeth, and Pili did with The Scorpio Races, I will usually fold, too. Ha ha. Which I did as you know. 😁
YAYYYYYYY ABOUT THE SCORPIO RACES THO.😂 I’m smiling so much right now ahhhh!! It’s glorious when I convert someone to Stiefvaterdom. (That’s totally a word, shh.)
But fair enough about running from hyped books! They’re not for everyone.😂 I’m just soooo curious ALWAYS.
I only read a few books because of hype and to be honest I was so sorely disappointed that I am probably now missing out on a lot of amazing hype books (such as some mentioned below) because of the burns.
Plus I hate reviewing them afterward, everyone is like I LOVE IT and I am like…god this sucks
Ugh the burns ARE awful. Like when you sit there going “what on earth is everyone raving about” because it was so bad.😂
A darker shade of magic <3
I read it a while ago but I haven't gotten over my feels enough to read the next one yet because it was to perfect and I don't want to ruin it!
I WILL NEVER GET OVER MY FEELS. And trust me, A Gathering Of Shadows has TWICE AS MANY FEELS. <3
CAIT I WARNED YOU ABOUT A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU. *tsk tsk*
But yes to Made You Up and Emmy & Oliver – they were both absolutely adorable and such perfect light reads.
And always yes to Victoria Schwab because her books are the best. *nods*
Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous post! <3
I LEARNED MY LESSON OKAY?!? OLWAYS LISTEN TO ZOE.😂 And Schwab can do no wrong basically.😍 Second to only Steifvater!
Two words. Gone Girl. I finished that book and wanted to hurl it across the room. I hated it. Ug, how I hated it.
And then I went back and read Flynn’s earlier works. I saw her speak at the local Community College. And I grew to appreciate the mastery that is Gone Girl.
Ooh, that’s awesome! I went to see the movie Gone Girl because I won tickets and….basically HELLO I AM TRAUMATISED FOR LIFE.😂 I had no idea what I was getting myself into haha. But I’m glad you got won over!
Thanks, Cait. Becuase of this post I just added a ton of books to my already long tbr *fake glares*. Anyways, I’m totally the same way. I read books that are hyped because there has to be a reason it’s getting so much attention. Sometimes it’s a good thing. Sometimes it’s not.
And oh. My. Gosh. Your comments on the selection….. hilarious. Sniffing her armpit. Haha.
I did the TTT post too 🙂 and I mentioned you in it! https://thebrookeworm.wordpress.com/2016/10/11/top-ten-tuesday-books-ive-read-because-of-another-blogger/
YOU’RE WELCOME FOR THE
HORRIBLEGIFT TO THE WORLD THAT IS ME. 😇😈 And I just get too curious about these hyped books!! Even if I don’t like them, at least my curiosity is satisfied. BAHAHAH I’m glad you appreciate my The Selection cover analysis.😂OHMYGOODNESS! SO many of these are ones I still want to read (and probably added to my shelves because of the hype). These included Jenny’s novels and “Emmy and Oliver.” Also, “The Selection” is one of my favorite reads; I’ve read the first two in the series, so now I need to make time to mark it “complete.” Great post/list, Cait.
Awk, I SO need to finish The Selection books. LIKE WHY HAVEN’T I?!??! *glares at ginormous TBR which is blocking the doorway and sinking the universe* Oh. That’s why.😂 I’LL GET TO THEM SOON THOUGH!
Hi! I’m a peer=pressured TBR list builder. Lol. If everyone jumps on a bandwagon, though, I stubbornly refuse. haha. Almost all of your books are on my TBR list. I hope to get to them soon! Great post. I love your pictures!
Leslie
My TTT
Omg my TBR is RIDICULOUS because of all the books I’ve added because everyone else too. *hi fives* 😂
Haha, I’m so glad I’m not the only one who immediately runs out to read a book that has been banned. I could probably do a whole list of books that I read only because I heard they were banned and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, haha. Great list, and as I always value your recs, I’ll be adding all the ones I haven’t already read to my TBR. 🙂
Omg I know right?!? It’s like HOW DARE PEOPLE TELL US WHAT NOT TO READ! It makes me go read them when otherwise I probably wouldn’t hahaha.😂 #rebel
I really loved Simon vs The Homo Sapiens too! I don’t read YA contemporary romances often these days, but this one was so worth it. And what would life be without the magic of V.E. Schwab’s creation? NOTHING, I TELL YOU. (I may or may not have yelled at you in all caps here…)
Great list, Cait! 🙂
So much agreement!! I don’t generally gravitate to contemporaries BUT SO CUTE AND FLUFFY AND FEEL GOOD which is a nice break from all the stabby books I read.😂 AND OMG AGREED. LIFE WOULD BE A SAD THING WITHOUT SCHWAB BOOKS. (And pfft I’m like constantly yelling at everyone in all caps. You’re in good company.😂)
I loooved Simon too, it was so lightearted and fun. I’m glad that I listened to the hype on that one for sure. By the way, your pictures are lovely!! <3 I hadn't heard of Made You Up, or actually any contemporary that portrays schizophrenia, interesting!
Aww, thankyou!! I had a lot of fun with this photo shoot for sure! And omg you MUST try Made You Up!! and if you’re after more schizophrenia recs (hahha, I’m like a recommendation monster over here) Alice and the Fly and Challenger Deep are both incredible.
Thank you! I’ll check those out 😀
I’m peer pressured for everything. Instagram? Peer pressure. Hardcovers? Peer pressure. Every fantasy book ever? Peer pressure.
I can’t help myself, Cait.
The struggle is real, my friend. We’re in this mess together. I blame 89% of my cover loving/hardcover obsession problems on bookstagram though. WHAT WAS LIFE BEFORE BOOKSTAGRAM?? IT MUST’VE BEEN CHEAPER.
I reacted the same way to A Thousand Pieces of You. I liked the Russian stuff, but everything else was not for me. And I bought it for the cover because I’m an aesthetics monster…lol.
*hi fives* WE ARE COMPLETELY TWINS NOW, SHARI. And honestly I’d buy the sequel for the cover.😂 I have no shame. (actually I’m terribly ashamed, BUT THESE COVERS😍)
Well now I am experiencing peer-pressure based stress and I obviously have to read ALL OF THESE. Although I’ve already read Emmy and Oliver- you peer pressured me into that one already and I’m not even sorry. :’)
YOU’RE WELCOME FOR THE PEER-PRESSURED INFLUENCE THAT IS ME.😇
I think that this was by far my favorite list of the week.. I love your photos!
Ahhhh thankyou!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! 😊😊
I forgot Simon vs on my list but I also read that because everyone was shouting about it, and when a book club near me read it I figured I had to give it a go despite it being waaaaaay out of my comfort zone being contemporary. I do not regret. <3
SAME! Like I do read a bit of contemporary, but it’s very rare for me to fall in love with it. Simon had so many squisy happy feels.😍
So I think if we’re going to ran recommendations/hype the absolute best are the ones that get you to pick up books you wouldn’t normally and then you love. We are sympatico regarding contemporaries – I don’t read them but maybe I should…. The few I have picked up because everyone shouted have been pretty great. Raven Boys series – though it’s got some magicky things, A Corner of white – which also has an alternate dimension……Okay so maybe I have never read a real straight up contemporary but both of these were great and not what I would normally pick up.,
OMG I LOVE THE RAVEN BOYS!!! THAT IS MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE SERIES IN THE WORLD. <3 So if you need to flail with someone I AM HERE.😍
OMG I am so with you on A Thousand Pieces of You. I was not a fan at all and so much of it didnt make sense. The cover is pretty though and I agree it would be much better on a cake.
*hi fives* WE ARE LIKE TWINS. But those covers, tho…I’m liked doomed to admire them.😍
Ohhh I have Made You UP on my TBR but I just never felt inclined to pick it up unfortunately! I love how a lot of your peer pressured read are mental illness or diverse books. I still haven’t read The Selection and I don’t know if I’m going to! I have read ADSOM but not the sequel yet. I NEED TO READ IT NOW.
And most of these are contemporaries too!!😂 Which is proof of my fantasy-hungry-soul because I have to be yelled at to get to the contemporaries. BUT THEN I LOVE THEm so honestly I should read them more often! Omg A Gathering of Shadows is glorious and will also stab you in the feels. WORTH IT THOUGH.
Simon vs the homo sapiens agenda has totally been hyped! I think I’d like it though, and it has recently been published in Swedish so I’ll probably be getting to it soon 🙂 I also liked The Selection, even though I didn’t LOVE it. Part two is being published in swedish really soon so I’ll read it then 😀 love love love your pictures!
Aww, thank you about my photos! THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME.😊 And yes! Simon Vs is literally everywhere, right?! I’m glad you’ll get a chance to read it soon. 😀
Wait… you… you mean… you mean Hachette ISN’T PRONOUNCED LIKE HATCHET?!?! WHAT! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?!?!
(Still 100% blaming you for all caps.)
Also, the Ferdinand Dragon (I assume this would be his surname, as he is a dragon) footnote = amazing 😉
I KNOW. MY LIFE IS A LIE. I thought the publishing house was all stabby and cutting but they’re not. *sniffles* These darn French and their pronunciations.
Ferdinand thanks you for the compliment.🐉🐉🐉
ALL the books I’ve read have been peer pressure books. Except for Holly Smale’s Geek Girl series *pats self on the back*
I want to read Emmy and Oliver one day. And I borrowed To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before from the library! Hurray! *dances awesomely ’cause I’m the best dancer*
Oh oh I hope you like To All the Boys too!! *dances wildly with you* 😊
This armpit comment made me laugh out loud. 😀 I distinctly remember yelling at you about ADSoM because it seemed exactly like your kind of book (and my kind of book btw I LOVE it). I actually haven’t read most of these, but I’ve added several to my wishlist now. Thanks for that. I’ve learned to avoid hyped books when they really don’t sound like my thing, BUT sometimes I still cave.
AGH WHY IS HYPE SO HARD. IT’S GOOD. BUT BAD. AND CONFUSING MUCH. AND YAY TO ALL OF THESE BOOKS AND THEIR PRETTY COVERS (slash insides) AND BOO TO THE REST.
HYPE IS WONDERFUL BECAUSE EITHER IT WORKS GREAT OR IT KILLS YOU. SO MUCH FUN.😂
YOU STOLE THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH.