The Rave & Rant Tag is an original tag created for Bookending Winter by the creative Sumedha @ The Wordy Habitat! I’m participating in Bookending Winter hosted by by  Sam @ Fictionally Sam & Clo @ Cuppa Clo AND Sumedha tagged me in her original post, so it felt meant-to-be that I give it a try!

This is my second Bookending Winter post. Be sure to check out my first, Christmas Songs Book Tag Mash-Up!

It’ll be a challenge for me to rant about books. It’s often hard for me to say negative things knowing someone has worked so hard, but it’s good to challenge ourselves, right?? Let’s see if I can do it! 😉

Rave & Rant Rules

Use this tag to dump your thoughts on books which you’d like to talk more about but usually don’t. Time to really rave about loved books, and rant about frustrating books. And be sure to tag or ping back to the original post by Sumedha!

Rave

A book you loved but don’t talk about enough

I read The Lost Love Song this year and I loved it! But I don’t feel like it got the attention it deserved. It’s refreshing and sweet with great characters. You can read my review here.

Rant

A book you didn’t like and haven’t spoken about

First rant and I’m already finding it a challenge. I think when you get to my age, you just know what kind of books you like and don’t like. So I don’t read many books I don’t like. If I do, they’re usually books that have been adapted and I read them before I watch the adaption. Like The Circle. I was not a big fan of this book or film.

Rave

An author whose works you love

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Eva Ibbotson is an author I discovered years ago but I don’t talk about often. Sadly, she passed away in 2010, and while she has more middle grade than young adult books—it’s her young adult historical fiction books I’m drawn to. I’ve read them all but one, The Reluctant Heiress, and I think I’ve held off because I know there won’t be any more. I started with A Company of Swans, but they’re all beautifully written!

Rant

An author whose works you [sometimes] don’t like

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Here’s another rant that’s hard to answer. If I come across an author or book I don’t like, I typically don’t pick up another book by them, so I’m not sure if it’s fair to say I don’t like them if I’ve only read one book. BUT there are a few authors I’ve read and their books can be a hit or a miss, so I’m never sure what to expect. For example, Colleen Hoover. While I enjoyed Confess, I didn’t love November 9.

Rave

A book you recently loved and want everyone to read

I’ve mentioned it a few times, but not as much as other books I’ve read this year. Dear Emmie Blue is one of my favorite reads this year. This heart-warming romance was such a delightful surprise! You can find my review here.

Rant

A book you recently didn’t finish and haven’t spoken about

I’m not sure if this is good or bad, but I didn’t DNF any books—so far—in 2020. But I did give Mary Kay Andrews a try in 2019 when I was invited to read an ARC of Sunset Beach. I started it, but only made it to about the 30% mark. It seemed like it needed a good editing, which wasn’t very encouraging for such an established author. I haven’t picked up another book by her.

Rave

A book you would recommend to everyone

I’ve read so many great books this year, but one that I think would appeal to anyone is Fable by Adrienne Young. It’s young adult, has action, a little bit of romance, and it’s so very well-written. This one took me by surprise! Check out my full review here.

Rant

A book others like and you don’t understand why

I know I’m in the minority with this one, but I’m always surprised by how much people like this novel. I’m a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid, but The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo just didn’t work for me. I found myself not caring about any of the characters, even skimming at the end to be finished.

I think I did okay?! For me, ranting about books is HARD. And it was also hard to find books to rave about that I haven’t mentioned much, but I enjoyed the challenge! Do you agree with any of my choices? Let me know in the comments!

I tag:
Carla @ Carla Loves to Read
Nicole @ BookWyrm Knits
Cherry @ Cherry Blossom Books
Deanna @ A Novel Glimpse
Leslie @ Books Are The New Black
and
YOU!

Happy Wandering!