Top Ten Tuesday, as always, is hosted at my other blog — The Broke & the Bookish
This week’s topic: Top Ten Authors on my “Auto-Buy” List
Stephanie Perkins just creates characters that linger in my heart for forever. I’m excited to see what she comes out with next because I know that I already adore her contemporary works so those are NO MATTER WHAT on auto-buy. I just know she is going to do other genres well. Check out of my reviews of Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door)
Seriously, Gayle Forman’s books always do something to my heart that never leaves it — those stories just stay embedded there and like I find myself thinking about them a lot. It’s the little pitter patters in my heart to the scenes that slay. She just is a phenomenal writer and seriously she could write the next 50 shades of Gray and I’d read it OK. I DON’T CARE. (My reviews of If I Stay, Where She Went and Just One Day)
John Green’s books make me think like nothing else, truly. I feel like I walk away from his books thinking about the world a little bit differently or about myself a bit differently. No books have ever been dogeared as much as his. I just am constantly awed by him as a person and just need him to write more books for a long time to come. Check out my reviews of Looking For Alaska and Paper Towns.
David Levithan is always surprising me. What I’ve read from him so far has always been delightful in it’s own way and always something different. I appreciate what he can do with a story to make it really mean something to me in different ways. I’m so excited for Invisibility by he and Andrea Cremer. I never know what to expect next from David but I’m always going to read it. Check out my reviews for Every Day, The Lover’s Dictionary and Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares.
Jonathan Safran Foer is one of my favorite literary fiction authors and just, in general, one of my favorite authors ever. The problem is that I need him to write more book PLEASE. EL&IC got me back into reading and then I read Everything Is Illuminated — which I didn’t love as much but still appreciated (Everything is Illuminated the movie was quite fantastic). I just love his writing and his stories and look forward to the day when I hear his next work of fiction will be out!
When I want a good YA historical fiction novel I turn to Ruta. After experiencing Between Shades of Gray I pretty much guessed she’d be on auto-buy for me but after reading Out of the Easy recently it has been confirmed. Seriously cannot wait for more from her! Her stories just suck you in and her characters are always so well written that I’m pretty sure they have a pulse.
Truthfully I’ve only read Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour but I knew after one book that I’d read anything she wrote. I literally had NO idea what Second Chance Summer was about it and added it to Goodreads immediately when it was announced. She just writes the kind of books I really like to read in the contemporary YA genre. I have Second Chance Summer on my shelf and plan to get to it soon because I’m really wanting to get back into her writing.
I just discovered the beauty of Something Like Normal recently and if you like contemporary YA..it is a MUST. Seriously. After one book from Trish I was just blown away and now I understood why some of my very best friends were obsessed with her writing! Her newest book Where Stars Still Shine is due out in the Fall and you know that was added to my TBR list immediately upon finishing SLN. It’s honestly rare for after one book for me to declare Auto Buy List. I just have that FEELING.
So tell me…which authors are on YOUR auto-buy list? I’m curious to know WHAT makes an author deserve a spot on that list? Have you read all of their books and know what to expect? Have you had an experience where you’ve only read one book but you just had that FEELING that whatever they would write would be GOLD?
Ruby says
Holy cow! Lucky you to have met so many of your favorite authors!
Jamie says
YES! I really AM so lucky that I’ve managed to be able to meet so many of my faves. It’s so crazy!
Rachelwrites007 says
On my auto buy list, Trish Doller, Gayle Forman, John Green, Stephenie Meyer (yes, I know, I know but I love her books- they are like crack!!!!), Lauren Morill, Jessica Spotswood, Rebecca Serle, Colleen Clayton, & Lauren Oliver. Your list just makes me want to go to ALL the book signings, Jamie 😛 you get pics with the best of ’em!
Jamie says
Hey..no shame on the Stephanie Meyer! She got me into YA so whatevs!
Sarah O says
Okay I agree with 1 and 2 SO HARD. Just, yeah. They are magical and amazing. Also 8! I love how all it takes is one book and you can be so hooked on an author’s style. Trish is one of those for me too. So if this were my list, and I’m going to pretend now that it is, I’d have to add Sarah Dessen and Jennifer Echols, though I have to say that their earlier works have been my favourite so far. I’ll also read any contemporary Elizabeth Scott writes, and anything Courtney Summers publishes because she is also magical. I just read This is Not a Test and it was pretty freaking great. I bet I forgot someone but OH WELL!
Jamie says
Yeah, typically I have to read at least 2 books before auto-buy status but Trish is definitely that author who I just KNOW. I didn’t want to say Dessen because I read a lot of her stuff a loooong time ago and can’t remember if I LOVED it.
Sarah O says
I haven’t loved EVERYTHING she’s written but my favourites are so high up on that list and my go-to rereads that it ensures I’ll buy everything she writes. Her best IMO are The Truth About Forever, Just Listen and This Lullaby.
fishgirl182 @ nite lite says
great list! i love stephanie perkins as well. and john green and david levithan are awesome. i really need to catch up on their books. i hear that ruta sepetys is amazing. i am staring at two of her books right now. i need to get on it.
Jamie says
YES! Read them! If you want an emotional gut punch..go with BSAG. If you just want a really wonderful story where the emotion creeps up on you…Out of the Easy.
marissa | Rae Gun Ramblings says
Everything I’ve read by Stephanie Perkins has been great! Can’t wait until Isla. And I’m ashamed to say that I haven’t gotten to any of the others but they have been waiting on my TBR list patiently.
Marissa @ Rae Gun Ramblings
Jamie says
I am DYING to get my hands on Isla! JUST DYING.
marissa | Rae Gun Ramblings says
I take it back. I read Dash and Lily and LOOOOOOVED it but haven’t read anything by just him
Jamie says
Read Every Day!!
Kate says
Love your author pics!
Jamie says
Thanks!
KateB says
I love the photos you have with those authors! I’ve read a few of these authors and intend to read more but there are just too many fantastic books out there and not enough time – but I suppose that’s better than the opposite which would be too much time and not enough good books.
I think I definitely need to read a Morgan Matson book. They sound fantastic.
Jamie says
Right? I hate sitting here thinking of all the books I WANT to read but there’s never enough time!!
Angelica says
Wow Jamie what a great list, and you’ve met so many Authors!!! I’d have to say my favorite from your list would have to be Stephanie Perkins and my that hair…it’s literally on fire!!!
Here’s my Top Ten.
Have a great week 😀
Jamie says
Yes! She always has fabulous hair. I went to another signing after that and her hair was another color!
DannyBookworm says
I so need to read Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour …. as in right now! I love your list and many many authors I love too!
Oh and .. I finally need to read Something Like Normal!!! Grr!
Just this weekend I read If I Stay and Where She Went -HOLY COW! That was EPIC!
Jamie says
YES please read Amy & Roger/SLN!! I’m so glad you loved If I Stay/Where She Went! Hopefully you get Just One Day on your list too! 😛
Kimberly says
I have Gayle Forman on my list too. Also, SO envious that you have met so many of your favorites!
Jamie says
I’m just super lucky to have great signings around here and that I’m not too far from NYC.
Annabel Smith says
I also love Jonathan Safran Foer and look forward go his next novel. It’s been a while…
Here’s my list : http://annabelsmith.tumblr.com/post/44035136791/top-10-tuesday-authors-whose-books-are-impossible-to
Jamie says
It seriously HAS been too long!!
Lucy @ The Reading Date says
What a gorgeous list, and with personalized pics too! You’ve met some fantastic authors 🙂 Levithan, Green, Perkins, and Forman made my list too – high five! And I easily could have added Morgan Matson & Trish Doller. Yay for contemporary authors!
Jamie says
I realized that all my authors were unintentionally contemporary! lol
Christianna says
I love your list! Look at all of the awesome people that you have gotten to meet! That’s too cool for you! Yay! I love when stuff like that happens!
Here is my TTT: http://thewhiteunicornfiction.blogspot.com/2013/02/top-ten-tuesday-3-auto-buy-authors.html
Jamie says
Thanks! 🙂 I love meeting authors and have been super lucky to meet so many faves!
Lola (Reading by Lamplight) says
Awesome list! A lot of authors that I love! 🙂
Jessica says
Perkins is one author I keep meaning to try, but haven’t yet. I like Green, but he’s not on my immediate to buy list.
Lori says
We have a few in common, but I can’t believe I didn’t put Stephanie Perkins on my list! I will buy anything she writes! She could rewrite the phone book and we’d all probably swoon. 😉
Jamie says
RIGHT???
Dina @ All The Stacks says
Stephanie Perkins and John Green both made my list.
The way I narrowed down my top ten was to think about which authors I would never forget when a new book is coming out (like Lauren Oliver for example). Writing books that I have an emotional connection to also helps (that’s why I picked Jean M. Auel who wrote one of my favorite books of all time The Clan Of The Cave Bear.)
Jamie says
Thanks for sharing your process! Definitely agree…I would NEVER forget an auto-buy author’s release date of their new book!
Trish says
That’s some mighty fine company to be in and I’m so honored. Thank you!
Jamie says
<33 You deserve it!!
Kimmy says
Can you believe I still haven’t read anything yet by John Green?? All of his books are on my TBR list but I haven’t actually picked one up yet. I must correct that!
My list would absolutely include Libba Bray (I love her!) and Kendare Blake. And it’s so cool that you’ve met so many of your favourite authors!
Jamie says
My favorite John Green is Looking For Alaska! I still have yet to read TFIOS but own it. It’s one of those books I feel like I need to be ready for…but I haven’t been!
Leela says
Mmm Many of these authors are in my list too because they are soooo great. You’re so lucky than you could meet them in person. I’m NOT jealous of you. OK, maybe a little hehe
Jamie says
It helps to live in Philly because then I am also near DC and NYC 😛
Christina says
We have a lot of the same picks, like John Green, Stephanie Perkins, Gayle Forman and Morgan Matson. I need to read Something Like Normal by Trish Doller- I’ve heard great things and since she’s on your auto-buy list, I will have to check it out. Great list, Jamie!
Jamie says
Yes please read Something Like Normal!!
Ginger @ GReads! says
Gah! How did I forget Morgan Matson?! After Amy & Roger, I will buy ANYTHING that woman writes! Also, Trish.. oh Jamie, I can’t wait for you to experience her next novel. SO GOOD.
Jamie says
Don’t worry! I forget Amy and Roger last week and I couldn’t believe it!!
Cindy Lynn Speer says
Some really awesome choices. I tend to like to read a couple of books before they automatically become auto-buys for me, but sometimes I do fall in love…
Kim @ Divergent Gryffindor says
Your. picture. with Steph. Perkins. OH MY GOSH you lucky girl, I’m so jealous of you! :))
Top 10 Auto Buy Authors & Books That Made Me Think
Kristina says
Oh! I hope to meet Perkins and Forman one day! Matson and Doller have been on the TBR list for awhile now. I might need to bump them up? ~
DeAnna says
I considered adding John Green, but I’ve only read one book of his so far. I loved it, but I’ve heard conflicting things about his other books. I’ll have to read some more to see what I think.
So far, I’ve only read If I Stay by Gayle Forman, but you’ve got me thinking that I really need to move her other books up the TBR list!
Vicky Hooper says
Wow, you’ve met so many of your favourite authors! That’s so cool! 🙂
Ariel @ One Little Library says
I love some of the same authors! I have to say, I haven’t always been a YA fan, but I’m being converted. Reading your blog is helping!
Loni says
So exciting that you’ve met so many authors! Love the pictures.
… I only made it to 8 on the auto-buy list too….
kit says
Love this list! Totally agree with Stephanie Perkins. I am reading Lola at the moment (after waiting for aaaages) and loving it, and Anna was amazing. Everything about her characters and her writing makes me smile, and I can’t wait to see what else she writes in the future. I still need to read Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson, but I thought Amy & Roger was wonderful.
Farrah says
YES. Stephanie Perkins and John Green. I cannot wait for Stephanie’s new book! Ahhh. This list is made of greateness. 🙂
Molli says
TRISH! <3
Jamie, I read The Fault In Our Stars recently, and I'm not lying when I say I cried my way through about half of it. I sat there and sat there trying to write a review that would ever begin to make sense.
Ahh, Gayle Forman. I'm hoping to read Where She Went soon, now I've read If I Stay.
And Perkins, well, I think we both know we'll do just about anything to read whatever she writes. 😉
<a href="http://www.onceuponaprologue.net/2013/02/top-ten-tuesday-49-my-auto-buy-authors/" My Top Ten
Debby (Snuggly Oranges) says
I’m so jealous of your author encounters! I love that you picked John Green and Gayle Forman, and asdfjkl; I really need to read Anna and the French Kiss ASAP. Great list and nice graphics 🙂
Nikki @ Foil the Plot says
I feel like David Levithan is one of those authors that should be read by anyone and EVERYONE because each of his books is SO unqiue and SO impactful. He’s definitely at the top of my auto-buy list, for sure. His books have changed my life!
I’d also have to add William Shakespeare (I heart the Bard), Maggie Stiefvater, Libba Bray and Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child to my list as well. Each of them is remarkable in their own way and even the stuff I didn’t love from each of them is still such quality writing that you can’t really ignore it.
Susan (Bloggin' 'bout Books) says
I haven’t read most of the authors you list, but I do love John Green. He’s a new author for me, so I’m still exploring all his work — still, LOVE HIM.
Christine @Buckling Bookshelves says
Trish Doller is on my list too! And just about all the others are on my overflowing “want to read, but haven’t quite gotten to them yet” list!
Ashley says
Your cuteness kills me. And I feel safe saying that to you because I’m _ash on twitter and I’ve said MUCH creepier things to you on twitter. 😉
For me it is Steph Perkins, Lisa McMann, Kiersten White. I’m trying to be better about auto buying books and using my libraries more (not just cause I’m in library school) but it’s hard.
elena says
oh yes to Morgan Matson! PLEASE read Second Chance Summer, I think it’s even better than Amy & Roger.
Candice @ The Grown-Up YA says
Yay! Great list! Love your cute pictures with all the different authors. 🙂
Jenni Elyse says
Yay for Stephanie Perkins! She made my list too! 😀
Hollie @ Music, Books and Tea says
We have a couple of the same authors on our lists! I’ve only read two of the books David Levithan has co-written, and I enjoyed his parts, but I can’t say he’s an auto-buy author yet. I’m super excited to (finally) read Something Like Normal, I’m pretty sure that Trish Doller will end up with a spot on my auto-buy list once I’ve finished it!
Christina (A Reader of Fictions) says
I haven’t read Stephanie Perkins or Morgan Matson, but I LOVE the others. Also, I love that Foer is on here. EL&IC is so freaking good. EII didn’t work for me as well, but I still want to read all of his stuff!
Tara says
I love that you have pictures WITH so many of your fave authors 🙂 I couldn’t agree more with your list and will be checking out the authors that I haven’t read yet!
Tiff @ Mostly YA Lit says
Ack, I feel like I missed so many on my own list. I know you only have eight, but I have 10, and I could have listed 15. Gayle Forman & Morgan Matson should totally be on my list, too…I haven’t even read Second Chance Summer, it’s just sitting on my bookshelf being pretty.
I still haven’t read Everything is Illuminated, and I really should. I loved the movie.
Cecelia says
Ah, wonderful list. Full of contemporary YA authors I need to read more of (and other genres, of course!). Thanks for sharing!
Braiden @ Book Probe says
Look at all those contemporary authors! I was going to put photos of me with some of my top ten authors but I misplaced some of my photos haha!
I think the only one for me on your list would be David Levithan. 🙁
Here’s my TTT: http://bookprobereviews.com/?p=3542
Rachael says
John Green is the only one I have read on your list so far, but I’m going to try Gayle Forman and Stephanie Perkins later this year.
Sana @ artsy musings of a bibliophile says
See, I knew there were other readers who’d know they’ll buy the next book by an author after reading one that swept them away. Also, the fact that you have a ton of contemporary authors on your list made me squeal with joy. The genre rocks! =D
Here’s my Top Ten Tuesday post!
Sana @ artsy musings of a bibliophile
Renae @ Respiring Thoughts says
Jamie, you are like the tenth person to put Morgan Matson on this week’s list. I haven’t really heard anything about her books but I really should check them out, because a) she sounds amazing and b) she’s got a following from people with great taste—such as yourself. And I definitely agree with you on Ruta Sepetys.
Lisa says
Pretty darn jealous that you’ve gotten to meet so many of your auto-buy authors! See a couple of new to me authors who need to be checked out.
Shelver506 says
I was super-impressed by how many authors you’ve met! I’m totally jealous.
My TTT: http://shelversanon.blogspot.com/2013/02/top-10-tuesday-my-top-auto-buy-authors.html
Allison L says
*sigh* I really need to read Anna and the French Kiss! I’ve heard so many good things about it, and about Stephanie Perkins.
Stephanie Allen says
John Green is at the top of my list. I’ve underlined so many passages in his books! Looking for Alaska is particular is close to my heart because I first read it during a really difficult time in my life and it helped me see things more clearly.
Melody says
Great list! I’ve only read TFiOs, need to read more Green so that I can consider him an auto-buy. Can’t wait to start reading Perkins, Forman, and Levithan so I can say the same as well!
Lisa says
Oh man, Morgan Matson is SUCH a solid auto-buy. Smart girl!
Janita (Book, Interrupted) says
Still haven’t read anything by John Green!! I’m a terrible person. Awesome list 😀
Daniel says
I really like your list, but sadly I’m not too sure of many of these authors, I need to expand my horizons, but I do recognise a number of their books.
I have to agree with John Green, I’ve got all of his books, and the thing is I haven’t even read any of them yet! Which is a little strange, but I’ve heard so much about his work, and I’ve seen him on Youtube, that I couldn’t resist buying them.
As for other auto-buy’s I’d have to say JK Rowling (I’ll always buy whatever book she publishes) and Isobelle Carmody (I’ve got quite a collection of hers, but I want to expand) and I guess if Suzanne Collins writes anything I’ll consider buying it.
I think authors get on this list by either consistently producing great books, so we just assume the next will be just as great, or the first book we read of theirs just is so fantastic that we are pulled in. I think having a series helps, because if you’ve read book one and liked it, then you are going to really want the rest of the series, so will probably buy them too. I certainly can’t have only book one sitting on my shelf, I need the collection!
Jen says
Morgan Matson kills me dead with her books. And AHH, yes, Trish Doller!
Alexa Y. says
I love that Morgan Matson made it onto this list. I wish I’d thought to include her on mine, as I’ve read both her books and absolutely LOVED them.
April Books & Wine says
Yes! John Green and Gayle Forman! Which reminds me I need to buy Forman’s first book that really doesn’t get the love of her other three.
Ah! I need to read Second Chance Summer, Shanyn gifted me that for Christmas but I’ve been kind of saving it on my kindle.