Top Ten Tuesday, as always, is hosted at my other blog — The Broke & the Bookish
This week’s topic: Top Ten Books I Thought I’d Like MORE or LESS
I totally thought I would enjoy all of these books MORE than I actually did. SAD FACE.
The Beginning of After was a highly anticipated read for me and, I can’t explain it, but I just read the summary and it sounded like very much a Jamie book. It was GOOD but it was not great or wonderful like I expected it to be. Just never quite made it there for me though so many people I know loved it.
This was really sad for me because Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook was one of my most anticipated debuts for 2013. I mean, a YA Bonnie & Clyde type story? I was so game. Unfortunately I just wasn’t impressed which was a shame because I REALLY thought I was going to love this one.
When I first heard about Everything Is Going To Be Great I was STOKED — I love travelogues and from the description of this one I thought it was going to be my new favorite one because I just needed a story of a twenty something who also was trying to figure out this post-college real world like I was. There were definitely enjoyable moments but I really thought I was going to LOVE it and mostly it just wasn’t there.
I had followed Maureen Johnson for a while on Twitter and she is hilarious AND 13 Little Blue Envelopes promised European travel so it should have been a total Jamie book but I honestly never connected with it on the level I thought I would. It just stayed an ok to good read for me.
I was recommended the Uglies before I ever really got into reading YA much less YA dystopian. This had been highly recommended all around Goodreads but I just really didn’t care for it nor have the desire to pick up book 2. SADS because Scott Westerfeld is pretty darn cool and lots of people loved this one.
I never thought I would have LOOOOOOVED these books in the way that I did.
I was CURIOUS about The Program by Suzanne Young but honestly didn’t have high hopes for it because lately awesome premises have just seemed to fall flat for me and I thought it would hover in the “it was good/pretty entertaining but that’s it” category. This book honestly just had it all and I was INCREDIBLY surprised at how much I LOVED it to pieces. One of my favorite new series which is hilarious since I have been so anti-series and so over dystopians lately.
I ignored you all for so long. I’m not a paranormal girl and angels? PSHH. I thought I was seriously going to not be a fan of the Unearthly series but I can’t even tell you how much I devoured it and LOVED it.
HAHA. I read Cinder by Marissa Meyer to pacify you all and also out of curiosity because all sorts of different readers were LOVING this one. I really thought I was not going to like this but I was easily swept up in it and need to get my paws on Scarlet. CYBORGS = MORE AWESOME THAN I COULD HAVE IMAGINED.
Admittedly I’m a newbie to the fantasy realm and I honestly thought maybe I would ENJOY The Girl of Fire and Thorns but I absolutely devoured this book on my honeymoon and decided that I needed to explore the fantasy genre more if this was what I was going to get! Game changer for me! Could not believe I LOVED it like I did.
I LIKED The Scorpio Races but didn’t love (I think reading it during a stressful period of wedding planning didn’t help it) so I really thought I’d feel the same about The Raven Boys — especially since the summary didn’t really sound AMAZING to me. I was blown away when suddenly I found myself reading this in a single day! It is totally NOT something I would have thought I would have loved by any means!
So tell me…have you read any of these books? Did you like them more or less than you thought? What are some of the most noteworthy books did you think you’d like more/less than you actually did.
thelibrarianchick says
Totally agree with Uglies. With all its massive popularity and critical acclaim, it feels like it must be just me. Glad to know it isn’t. 🙂
Michelle says
Really pretty graphics this week!! I’ve heard that a lot of ppl were disappointed in The Raven Boys after reading Scorpion Races bc SR was SO good. I mean how is John Green going to follow up TFIOS… oh wait it’s John Green, I’m sure he’ll be fine. Cool list! I love this topic!
My TTT
Christine @ BookishlyB says
I don’t read YA, but this summer I’m thinking about reading a few for a blog feature. I think Cinder will definitely be one of the three if I do it.
Savindi @The Streetlight Reader says
I adored The Raven Boys as well! Such a good book,although the ending kind of confused me. I’m going to have to go back to it before The Dream Thieves comes out! I did read Cinder, but unfortunately I wasn’t a fan of it. I’ve heard the sequel is quite good though, so I might borrow it from the library after I read the first 5 chapters that were available on google. Have you read Scarlet yet?
Cassie says
I KNEW KNEW KNEW The Program would be on the “less” part for you as well as Girl of Fire and Thorns [which i am reading in may, kinda scared though!] Sad to hear you didn’t enjoy The Beginning of After, I was literally just eyeing it down TODAY. 🙁
DannyBookworm says
Just like you I expected more from Nobody but Us and was highly dissapointed.
And YES for Raven Boys ..I didn’t care for Scorpio Races and I likved Shiver Ok but … Raven Boys was awesome!
Alyssa says
Great list! I have started The Raven Boys but haven’t totally gotten hooked into it yet. I’ll pick it up again eventually. I just bought The Girl Of Fire And Thorns so i’m excited about that one too. Unearthly i havent read but i love paranormal books.
Thanks!
My Top Ten
Isa says
13 Little Blue Envelopes and Uglies were disappointing reads for me as well. I’m so happy you liked The Program because the synopsis is really intriguing but I’m a little scared to read it. I’m getting tired of YA dystopian lately. I was really excited to read Cinder but for some reason the story fell flat for me. I seem to be liking Scarlet more but it’s still a “meh” kind of feeling. I’ve been collecting the Unearthly series but I still need to read it, I’m not a fan of paranormal either but I’ve heard amazing things about the books.
ashley says
*goes to TBR list while shaking fist at Jamie*
Alexandra says
I have a weird relationship with Maggie Stiefvater’s books – I’m not a fan of her Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy or her Books of Faerie, so I wasn’t even going to try The Scorpio Races and The Raven Boys, but after some very pursuasive reviews, I picked them up and beyond-words-loved them. I didn’t mind the Uglies books – one of my brothers and I adopted a couple of Westerfeld’s slang words (because we are lame :-P) which we use from time-to-time. I think they’re books that would be good discussion books. Like, there’s a lot of ideas in there.
My biggest disappointment this year so far has been A.G. Howard’s Splintered. I love Alice in Wonderland, so I was crazy-excited for it, but then didn’t think much of the characters and plotline. 🙁
Keep hearing rave reviews of Girl of Fire and Thorns. I think I need to add it to my TBR pile.
Jennifer @ A Librarian's Library says
I am so glad that I am not the only person who just didn’t really like Uglies! I just found it….blehhhh. LOL. And I really want to get my hands on The Program!
Kristin says
Completely agree with you on Cinder! I bought it on a whim and didn’t except much from it, and I was completely blown away! Absolutely loved it!
I can never decide whether or not to read Uglies. I love the concept of it but I am always hearing mixed reviews.
Going to have to pick of few of these books up! x
Christianna says
I’ve only read Cinder and 13 Little Envelopes! Cinder is on my list as well I love it to pieces and I actually really love 13 too. It’s a bummer that you didn’t love it. But great list and I want to read the rest of you “loved them” books!
My TTT
Kim @ Divergent Gryffindor says
I always LOVE how you do your TTT posts so creatively! You’re always the one I watch out for during Tuesdays :)) Sadly, (and shamefully) I haven’t read any of these books yet. Time to have some catching up to do! 😀
Top Ten Tuesday
Check This Out! 🙂
Chrissi Reads says
Cinder surprised me too. I’m also surprised about how much I liked the Unearthly series. Great list!
Nancy @ Tumbling Books says
I definitely thought that I would like Cinder way less than I did. I ended up loving it. I agree, cyborgs are much cooler than we thought they were!
Oh, and The Raven Boys! YES! It was great and the summary did not do it justice. 🙂
Gaby @ Queen Ella Bee Reads says
I TOTALLY wasn’t sure about Cinder either. I really almost didn’t pick it up but then Alexa, among others, insisted, so I really had no choice. Besides, part of me wanted to read it even though the rest of me did.
And I totally agree about 13 Little Blue Envelopes. I just finished it and I wanted to love it so much more. It had a lot of things necessary to bring the feels, it just didn’t do it, y’know? I do follow Maureen Johnson on Twitter, though. She’s HILARIOUS.
marissa | Rae Gun Ramblings says
At first a read your post really fast and was so sad since so many of my favorites (and on the stack books) are on the bottom list BUT I totally agree with the ones I’ve read and now I’m even more excited to get to the rest!
My Top Ten
Rosie says
I loved the first two books in the Uglies series, but I haven’t been able to finish the third! I was about to get through about 20% and became annoyed. I really want to finish it, but I don’t know if I will.
kit says
I felt the same about 13 Little Blue Envelopes. The travel element, the whole premise of the letters to be opened one at a time – I thought I would love it, and in the end it fell very flat for me. I didn’t mind Uglies, but after reading Pretties I don’t think I’ll be finishing the series – I kind of lost interest with the characters and stopped caring!
bookrockbetty says
I gotta get Raven Boys read— no thanks to book club giving it the axe. hahaha I think it’s funny that we feel a bit differently about The Program. I’m so excited to discuss on Wednesday!!!
Christina T says
I loved The Girl of Fire and Thorns. I thought I’d like it but didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. I also thought I wouldn’t like Cinder even though I usually enjoy fairy tales retold because of the whole cyborg/scifi angle but that didn’t bother me at all and I thought it was well done.
Anya says
I still suuuuuper need to read Girl of Fire and Thorns! It’s in the schedule for my readathon after finals >.>
My TTT
Brittany says
Awww I’m so sad you didn’t like Uglies that much. I’ve read that whole series probably 5 times. I can’t wait to read some of the other books you’ve got on the “more” list 🙂 🙂
Maggie @ Just a Couple More Pages says
I am DYING to read The Program. I am so excited for next week.
The Beginning of After and Nobody But Us have been on my TBR list for a while, I’ve heard mixed things about both, but I’ll still (probably) (eventually) check them out.
Great lists!
Merin @ Read and Reviewed says
Yes to Cinder! That’s on my list, too. I was totally ready to hate it because I’m not huge into sci-fi, but it really surprised me!
My TTT post 🙂
Stormy says
I’m with you on the Uglies series! I liked Uglies itself all right, but each book got progressively worse in my opinion. I was quite sad by the time I finished. CINDER! Yes! Who knew I could love a story about cyborgs so much?
Sunny says
LOVE LOVE LOVE your list! The ones that you enjoyed more than you thought you would are either beloved books of mine or on my TBR. But I’m going to be reading Nobody But Us soon so I’m disappointed that it didn’t meet your expectations. Great list, though!
My TTT
Ashling says
Great list! I love Cinder and Girl of Fire & Thorns. I think you will love the sequels too. I still have to read The Program and Raven Boys, but they’re on my TBR list and I hope to get to them soon.
Ashling @ Reading, Writing, & Anything but Arithmetic
Erin @ YA Book Crush says
Great lists! I loved Cinder and The Raven Boys, too, and so want to get my hands on The Program. Unearthly was an okay read for me, but not spectacular (and I couldn’t even finish Hallowed). I’ve been wanting to check out 13 Little Blue Envelopes (I follow Maureen, too), and I’m glad to see you think it was at least an ok to good read – even if you were disappointed. I think I’ll add it to my pile.
Ginger says
I have looked at Cinder several times and pass it by. I will have to add it to my list. That and the Program. I am still a dystopian whore. I can’t get enough of them lately.
I just finished “Matched” and I was unimpressed. I heard a lot of good things about it but I felt it was very one note. There wasn’t much going on in the background.
Sash says
UNEARTHLY. YES. 🙂
Rachelia (Bookish Comforts) says
It SUCKS being disappointed by books, doesn’t it 🙁
Everything Is Going to Be Great sounds interesting, but if I read it, I’ll decide to be cautious now.
I read Peeps shortly after it came out and there wasn’t the plethora of YA there is now. I trudged through it — I think it is a good idea, but definitely was not for me.
We ended up reading Cinder around the same time and while I didn’t *love* it, it did surprise me when I actually did like it. I thought it wasn’t going to be for me, but I’m looking forward to reading Scarlet now!
My Top Ten Tuesday
P.S: Love your graphics this week!
Annie says
Thanks. Nobody But Us has just been struck off my wishlist and The Program added! You star, you. 🙂
SweetMarie83 says
Out of these books I’ve only read Cinder, and it was so good. Everyone seemed to love it and I was a bit wary but it was so unique and fun. I’m hoping to read Unearthly soon – I’ve heard such mixed things that I’m looking forward to finally reading it and forming my own opinion. Great list, Jamie!
~Marie @ Ramblings of a Daydreamer
Renae @ Respiring Thoughts says
The only books from this list I’ve read are Cinder, Unearthly, and The Girl of Fire and Thorns, and Uglies—all got 4 stars from me, which is about as good as it gets. HOWEVER, the Uglies series got really terrible in later installments, and I was really upset about the direction he took them in.
I’ll have to try out The Raven Boys and The Program, even though they’re not in my usual genres!
Bonnie says
I was also completely surprised at how much I loved Unearthly and The Raven Boys too! I remember I tried reading 13 Blue Envelopes because I was also interested in the concept but boy was it terribly boring… I don’t think I even finished it!
My Top Ten Tuesday!
Molli says
I didn’t think I’d love Cinder either, Jamie! Then I really, really liked it, and am planning to re-read this year before I read Scarlet. Super happy you liked that one, and The Program. I can’t wait to read that one, since I’m a HUGE fan of Suzanne’s A Need So Beautiful series. 🙂 Wonderful list. I’ve yet to read anything by Maureen Johnson, but agree, she is hilarious on Twitter!
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Nikki @ Foil the Plot says
So many of the books you loved (Cinder, Girl of Fire & Thorns) are on my massive TBR list and I have no doubts that I am going to love each and every one of them. The Raven Boys was also a surprise to me because, like you, I wasn’t blown away by The Scorpio Races either. Man, was I wrong. I love me some Maggie!
Great list, Jamie!
Loni says
I have a copy of The Raven Boys, but for whatever reason, haven’t read it yet. I’ve heard so many good things about this one, I really need to crack it open.
Natalie says
I am soooo with you on Unearthly! I was totally skeptical because it was a book about angels, and well, typically angel books just don’t do it for me. But OMG I feel in love with Unearthly!! I’ve got to get going on the rest of the trilogy!
Jacque says
Unearthly has been on my TBR list for a long time. I really need to read it.
I LOVED the last half of Raven Boys. The beginning was a little slow for me. Once there was more of Gansey I really started to like it. I am excited to read the next book in the series.
Here is my TTT: http://jacquesbooknook.blogspot.com/2013/04/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-thought-i-would.html
Leah says
Cinder, The Raven Boys, OMG. Amazing, amazing, amazing books. I absolutely loved them!! Great list, Jaime :).
My TTT 🙂
Christina @ Allodoxophobia says
Thank you for making me not the only one who didn’t love 13 Little Blue Envelopes. It was just okay for me too. Love the second list, I agree all around!
Jenn @ Give a Hoot, Read a Book says
Love your graphics this week, so pretty! 🙂
Cinder was on my TTT too, but for the opposite list…I liked it, but didn’t love it. I can understand about Uglies too, even though I really enjoyed it. It has its moments that I think could turn off certain people.
Jade says
Uglies made it on to my list this week as a book I thought I’d like more than I did.. I feel like it’s kind of a popular let down because it was suppose to be so good. Also, many dystopian worlds that I read after Uglies totally knocked that superficial world down to size!
The Program and The Raven Boys are both books that have been sitting on my wish list for a while.. Did you just enable me to buy them? Perhaps 😛
Emily @ Forever Literary says
I had the exact same experience with Unearthly! I was wary about the romance, but the love triangle turned out to be wonderfully done.
The Program does spark curiosity, so maybe I’ll have to check it out since it exceeded your expectations so much. 😀
Mel@thedailyprophecy says
I LOOOOOVE the girl of fire and thorns <3 and I never thought I would fall in love with a book as Cinder, since I normally don't like Sci-Fi. I was so wrong and I'm still happy I decided to give it a shot. Thanks, fairytale obsession 😀
Mel@thedailyprophecy.
Nikki says
I haven’t read anything from your “More” list… maybe that’s a good thing? lol. Though I do have Uglies on my TBR list because so many people have liked it. =S
Totally love Cinder, Unearthly, and especially Raven Boys – that one surprised me as well, mostly because it took me a few tries to even get into it to begin with, but now it’s one of my all-time favorites! Awesome list! 🙂
Annie says
Ditto with Cinder and 13 Little Blue Envelopes. I thought 13 LBE was just too busy for me. Honestly, I can’t remember a thing from it except for Keith and the girl in the graveyard.
Britt says
Interesting list. I have only read Cinder, so I guess I’ll have to check out some of the other ones you <3.
Emily says
Ah, I totally agree with you about Uglies!! It’s on my TTT list too, ha! I just didn’t think it was as great as everyone else said it was.
Emily from Blue-Eyed Bibliophile
Christina (BookTasty) says
I completely understand your thoughts on 13 Little Blue Envelopes. I didn’t connect…I didn’t feel much. But I will say that I ADORE the Shades of London series. How did you like those?
Anna says
You + me = we should have a discussion about The Program. Remind me later, k? xo
Jessica says
I Love Cinder! The whole Cinder as a cyborg thing just did not sound interesting to me, but I read the sample chapters and then I needed the book! I have Uglies and want to read it soon. I’m not sure if I’ll like it though. Love how your list looks!
Madigan says
Aw, sad! I loved Uglies – loved the whole series.
I love your post though. Thanks for sharing!
Janita (Book, Interrupted) says
Uglies was a DNF for me years ago. I just didn’t click with the character and I didn’t understand where the story was headed. Cinder and Unearthly I hugely agree with you on. Cinder was just all around phenomenal, and I wasn’t expecting that at all, and Unearthly had the cutest romance I’ve read in a loooong time.
Tabitha S. says
Your graphics are so cute this week! Cinder is one that I need to read – I keep starting it and then setting it down. And then the Raven Boys!! That one was such a pleasant surprise. I hadn’t been a huge fan of the other books I’d read by Maggie Stiefvater, but this one was SOO good.
Great list!!
Jessica @ Books: A true story says
I loved Cinder too! Who knew cyborgs and fairy tales could work together? 🙂 Aw sadness about 13 Little Blue Envelopes. I haven’t read that one yet but I want to.
My TTT
Alexa Y. says
I am so stinking happy that you were really making the Unearthly series come up on my radar. I just finished it last weekend, and it was so good (except for the decidedly corny ending, lol). I really liked it, and I normally next to never like angel books.
I’m also incredibly glad that you loved The Raven Boys, as I am a HUGE Maggie fan, and I think she writes beautifully. And Cinder is one of my favorite books, and that series ROCKS MY SOCKS OFF.
Kelly @ Belle of the Literati says
I thought the same thing about Cinder, like what’s the big deal…then I read it and was totally blown away! Nobody But Us totally fell flat for me too…that ending…what? SO HAPPY that you loved Unearthly and Raven Boys and Girl of Fire and Thorns 🙂
Annie says
Hi,
Is it okay that I borrowed your art work this week? Take a look and let me know: http://bookblather.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/top-ten-tuesdays-books-i-thought-id-like-moreless-than-i-did/ I’m pretty hopeless when it comes to design and I was finishing this post at like 2am (oops!).
I can take it down immediately if not.
I’d love to carry on using your image in the future as long as your fine with the credit I’ll write each week complete with link to your blog?
Thanks!
J.R. McGinnity says
I have to say that I am a huge fan of Scott Westerfeld and absolutely love The Uglies. Any book that starts out with “The sky was the color of cat vomit” has to be worth reading if only for the description and humor.
I enjoyed some of his other books too, although The Uglies was my favorite.
I haven’t read any of the others here on you 10 but I think I’m going to have to read some of them now.
Lori says
I definitely agree with you about the Uglies. I didn’t even finish that one. It made me so sad because people have such great things to say about it but it just didn’t work for me. I still have to read The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Cinder, and The Program. I’m glad you loved them. I’m especially trying not to get my hopes too high for The Program but I don’t think it’s working. I can’t wait to read it!