In yesterday’s blog, I mentioned how important I think it is for you to read books you’re recommend. There’s something very personal about feeling the need to recommend a book to someone, and reading that book can tell you as much about the person who recommended it to you, as it will about the person who wrote it. So without further ado, here are ten books I have been recommended.
The Shock of the Fall
Nathan Filer
I went into this yesterday so I won’t go in to it again, but needless to say I was recommended this by a friend, after they said it was a very personal read for them, and it turned out to be so for me as well. A wonderfully touching book dealing with Depression and PTSD.
The Queen of the Tearling
Erika Johansen
I was recommended this book by the BookTube community at large, when it was first released, and, although it’s not as popular amongst that community as I think it deserves, I have loved it ever since. I am actually re-reading it right now in preparation for the final book in the trilogy, The Fate of the Tearling, which is released soon, and am being reminded once again what a wonderful first book in a series this is. A fantastical gritty YA fantasy crossover.
The Sin Eater’s Daughter
Melinda Salisbury
Yet another BookTube recommendation, this time from Elizabeth @ The Owlery, who went on and on about this book enough times for me to finally grab it. I’m so glad she did, because it’s such a fantastical story, really surprised me, and excellent world-building. Plus, Mel is just the loveliest person, so that’s always a bonus!
Radio Silence
Alice Oseman
This was a recommendation I picked up last year during a few #UKYAChat discussions on Twitter. Everyone kept mentioning what a wonderful book this was, but it took me until this year to get around to it, and I wish I had done so sooner, because I loved it so much. I always recommend it to anyone who’s currently in school and/or applying for university, because I wish I had had the advice this book gives out, given to me when I was that age. Such an enjoyable read about a podcast loving nerd.
Finding Audrey
Sophie Kinsella
Yet another one I mentioned yesterday, but I was recommended this by HelloIAmMariam over on Twitter, while looking for books about Anxiety, and, as I mentioned yesterday, this book honestly helped my own recovery so much. Fantastically hilarious, but moving, read.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Laini Taylor
I was both recommended, and won copies of this, from Mikayla @ Mikayla’s Bookshelf, who couldn’t stop going on about it, to the point she gave away the whole series to celebrate it. I’m so grateful because I fell in love with this book from the word go. It’s such a beautifully written crossover fantasy, that felt like a real old school fantasy story. I’ve yet to read the next two, but they are right up at the top of my TBR, because I loved this one so much!
House of LeavesMark Z. Danielewski
This book was originally recommended by Goodreads, so I got it, and then forgot I had it, until Dawn Kurtagich mentioned it at YALC, and now I’ve just started reading it. It’s meant to be terrifying, so that’s rather worrying, but it’s already really unsettling and intriguing and I love this style of document-style books, like S. and The Dead House, so I’m so excited for this one. Yes, I know, I haven’t read it yet, but it’s so unique I have to mention it.
A Darker Shade of Magic
V. E. Schwab
Was recommended this by everyone, basically, because it was all anyone could talk about, when it came out, but I was travelling so I didn’t read it till a month or so later, and then fell in love with it. Lila is my favourite character from any book in a long while, she’s so spirited, I love her. Once again, like Daughter of Smoke and Bone, this just felt like a real old school fantasy tale, fantastic world building, and dynamic characters.
Ready Player One
Ernest Cline
I have such a love/hate relationship with this book. It’s such a great idea, and I, in general, love the way it turned out, but I hated the ending with a passion, and it is problematic with regards to race, so that’s definitely an issue as well. I guess I just loved the concept of it though, and regardless of issues, the world-building was well done. The film will be interesting, although I do hope they change the problematic parts.
Shadow and Bone
Leigh Bardugo
Okay, so I had issues with this book, as well, but in general I really enjoyed reading it. And, like others on this list, the world building was fabulous, I fell into it immediately, and I’m so glad she’s gone on to write other stories in the Grishaverse. My main issues were with Alina’s relationship with The Darkling, which felt too cliche, but that aside, as I said, I did just really enjoy reading this series. I devoured it in a week.
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Top Ten Tuesday is organised by The Broke and the Bookish, and is a weekly discussion involving the entire BookTube/Blogging community.