Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Top Ten Books I Thought I'd Like More/Less Than I Did

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish

THIS WEEK'S PROMPT IS TOP TEN BOOKS I THOUGHT I'D LIKE MORE/LESS THAN I DID

So because it's a more/less option this week I've decided to do five of each. First Five Less, Second Five More. So for the books I thought I'd like less it doesn't necessarily mean that they're my favourite books ever, just that they pleasantly surprised me and for the top five I thought I'd like less, some I liked some I didn't, I just had really high expectations for all of them. 

BOOKS I THOUGHT I'D LIKE LESS











1. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
The Snow Child was one of my favourite books from last year and I'm pretty sure it's made a few of my lists, but I almost didn't finish it. Like at the beginning I was just super annoyed by everybody and put it down a few times. So so glad I read past those first like 25 pages because it's a beautifully written, touching story.

2. After the Fire by Becky Citra
I picked up After the Fire at a local bookstore. I had never heard of it before, but I wanted to read something short. Was it what I was expecting? No. But that's okay because I thouroughly enjoyed it even though I pretty much never read middle grade books. This is the book that had me rethinking that policy.

3. Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff
I bought this book because of the title and cover. It wasn't my absolute top ten favourite book ever, but it definitely beat my expectations. I had some issues with it, but overall it was just this amazingly creepy story that's stuck with me for a few months. Definitely was not expecting that.

4. Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schrieber
Again, this wasn't a book that I totally loved, but I was kind of expecting to hate it. I'm not a huge fan of action movies. I'm in love with character driven books. Au Revoir was like the action movie version of a book, but it was a well done version. Schrieber made it work. It was fast paced and I was rooting for the main character and more than anything it was just a fun, light read for summer. It just kind of fit my mood exactly when I read it and I liked it way more than I thought I would.

5. Escape Theory by Margaux Froley
So I'm not as big a fan of boarding school settings as a lot of people are. I tend to get annoyed at the problems that seem to repeat in so many of these books/movies. However, I really loved Escape Theory. Like I expected I would enjoy it, just not as much as I did. I really loved the main character and Hutch and well the mystery also helped. It kind of combined a few genres and I just loved how they worked together to create a really engaging story.

BOOKS I THOUGHT I'D LIKE MORE








1. The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
I was really disappointed by The Postmistress. I waited ages to read it (so long that I actually ended up buying two copies of it). But in the end, it was a no go for me. A lot of the characters just bored me and the one I really liked didn't have nearly as much space as she should have. Plus there are so many WW2 stories that cover similar themes only much better.

2. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed Pushing the Limits; I just didn't love it as much as I expected to. I totally enjoyed this book, was super into the story and can't wait to read McGarry's next book. I just had such high expectations. Like I was thinking this would be one of my favourite books of the year, but I didn't love the characters as much as I thought I would. It didn't really stick with me like my favourite books tend to do.

3. Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski
I thought this book was super unrealistic, I didn't love how sex was dealt with and just thought the main character was super annoying. It wasn't totally unenjoyable, but I'm definitely not running out to recommend this book to anybody. I wanted a light read to take my mind off of things, but I didn't have a lot of fun with this one. Didn't hate it, but not worth a reread.

4. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Everybody loves this book. Like people whose opinions I really respect who have turned me onto some of my favourite books. I can't stand this one. I just think Belly is super whiny; I couldn't get behind her story at all and like some terrible things happen, but she's so self centered she doesn't really pay attention. Just no. I haven't been able to read the rest of the series. It just SEEMS like a book I should love, but it did not work for me.

5. Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott
Secrets that are telegraphed at the beginning of the novel. A main character who is so self absorbed and angsty that she spends like the entire book complaining. Just no. I remember being excited when this one came into the library, but it didn't work for me on any level. Some random guy is never going to wake a girl up from a coma and an MC who just whines about how perfect her sister is is a maaajor turn off. Definitely a disappointment.

So those were my Top Ten this week. What were yours? Anything in common? 

10 comments:

  1. I think I liked Dare You To better than Pushing the Limits. You should definitely check it out when it comes out in June!

    TTT at Krista's Dust Jacket

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    1. Oh I'm definitely going to read Dare You To. I'm pretty excited for it.

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  2. Pushing the Limits and Ten Things We Did are 2 of my fav books... like ever lol. But it's cool, I like seeing what other ppl thought of books I liked/disliked :) I haven't read The Summer I Turned Pretty yet, and honestly I really can't picuture reading about a girl named Belly. I mean WTF is that name? Anyway Escape Theory and Paper Valentine look fab, I definitely want to read those! Cool list & I like your blog color and polka dots, very pretty!!


    My TTT

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    1. Thanks for the compliment! I was definitely expecting Pushing the Limits to be one of my favourite books too; I can't place a finger on why it fell a little short, but I definitely still like it.

      I definitely had problems getting past the name Belly too.

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  3. I completly agree with the summer I turned Pretty. I can't stand Belly! I tried reading the second one, but I can't do it.
    New follower :D
    my TTT
    http://kimberlysnovelnotes.blogspot.com/2013/04/top-ten-tuesday-18.html

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    1. I'm glad I'm not the only one. It's just seems like such an iconic book!

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  4. Don't give up on Katie McGarry. I felt the same about Pushing The Limits, but loved Dare You to so so much!

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    1. I definitely won't. It's actually one of the next books on my TBR list.

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  5. I thought I was the only one who didn't like The Summer I Turned Pretty! I'm so happy I saw this, I feel slightly less crazy now ;) I thought Belly was so whiney and immature and I didn't see what was appealing about Conrad or Jeremiah.

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  6. I agree completely! The three characters you're supposed to like, I just didn't.

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