Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week a new theme is suggested for bloggers to participate in. This week’s prompt is 10 Most Recent Books I Didn’t Finish, but I decided to do something else. 🙂
Hello Readers! I had a very nice blogging hiatus. It was my first, and now I see the benefits. 😉 While I was gone, I enjoyed a few days away with extended family and re-read (and re-watched) the entire Hunger Games series. Every time I re-read a beloved series, I wish I’d done it sooner. There’s something so comforting and nostalgic about re-reading for me. I highly recommend it!
I had to change today’s prompt because I’m not a regular DNFer. I can count on one hand the books I’ve DNFed. It’s not because I have anything against DNFing, I’m just very discerning when it comes to books. I’m not the fastest reader, so I pick my books carefully. And so today I’m looking at books with mixed reviews I still want to read. Another thing I’ve learned over the years, some of my favorite books don’t have a high rating. When I see those low scores, I’m usually even more interested in a book.
Let’s see what books made my list!
(In order from newly released to oldest.)
(Link to Goodreads synopsis through book title.)
- Cutting Teeth by Chandler Baker – I read Baker’s Whisper Network and The Husbands (My Review) as ARCs, but this one didn’t even land on my radar until it published a few days ago. Much like her other books, Cutting Teeth already has mixed reviews. And if you read the synopsis, it’s weird. Vampire children?! But I was a big fan of her other books, even giving The Husbands five stars, which means I need to read this one, as well.
- The Nanny by Lana Ferguson – Then there are those books that get so much early buzz, glowing reviews, that I’m surprised when I discover their ratings have tanked after the new wears off. The Nanny seemed to be the book all my fellow romance bloggers were reading earlier this year, and I was bummed to be denied for the ARC. I’m still very intrigued, though.
- The Dog of the North by Elizabeth McKenzie – I read and adored an ARC of McKenzie’s previous book, The Portable Veblen back in 2016, another book that has mixed reviews. I gave it five stars, and it’s one I still think about, so of course, I’m gonna read its follow-up.
- The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz – The synopsis for this one had me interested from the start. It’s such a great premise. I’m bummed to see the mixed reviews, but still curious. This might be an instance where a book would make a better movie??
- Big Swiss by Jen Beagin – I first came across this book when I saw it on a list of new reads you must read before they’re adapted. The writer of the list gave such a glowing review, I was sold. It sounds like just my kind of unique book.
- Before I Do by Sophie Cousens – I’ve only read one book by Cousens, This Time Next Year, but it also has mixed reviews. I really liked the writing style, so I’m willing to give this romance a chance.
- The Last Karankawas by Kimberly Garza – This book ended up on my TBR because of the setting. It’s set in Galveston, Texas, where I’ve spent many summer vacations. It’s also set during Hurricane Ike, and living in Texas, I’m intrigued by hurricanes and tornadoes.
- Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney – It’s no surprise to me that Rooney’s latest book has mixed reviews. She’s definitely one of those polarizing writers. There are things I didn’t love about Normal People, but it’s a book that has stuck with me, so I want to read this one, as well.
- We Are Inevitable by Gayle Forman – I’ve been a fan of Gorman’s for years, and I read an excerpt of this one, enjoying what I read, so it stays on my TBR.
- 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne – I only recently finally read Thorne, picking up The Hating Game, which became one of my favorite books last year. It also included the first few chapters of 99 Percent Mine, which I enjoyed, so I’ll give it a chance.
Have you read any of these books? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
You were so diplomatic with your post this week. I like the spin, though I am a huge DNFer (I just don’t tend to talk about those books). That said, I seem to love books with mixed ratings. LOL! The Nanny, Before I Do, and We Are Inevitable all rated high for me, and I liked 99 Percent Mine — you have to give the heroine a bit of leeway, but she grows on you as you get to understand her, at least that was my experience. Before I Do surprised me in the best way. I didn’t expect it to delight me so much.
You’d have to be a DNFer with as fast as you read books. 🙂 And I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed all of these. I feel like they’re ones I will enjoy, too. Especially since we usually have the same thoughts about books!
Welcome back! It’s nice to see you around again. And I agree with Samantha. You were very diplomatic!
Here is my Top Ten Tuesday post.
Thanks Lydia! I’m trying to figure out what y’all mean by diplomatic. 🤔😃 My brain goes right to negative connotations. Ha!
Welcome back! I’m glad you enjoyed your break and got to reread (and watch) a favorite series! The Hunger Games is great!
I like your spin! Should have done something similar as I’m also not a regular DNFer. 😅
I read The Writing Retreat and I agree with what you said. I definitely feel like someone could make it into a riveting movie but, as a book, I found it very…alright.
My (disappointing) TTT: https://standingtreereads.wordpress.com/2023/07/25/top-ten-tuesday-%f0%9f%97%93%ef%b8%8f-july-25-2023/
Hmm. The Writing Retreat might be one I need to give up on. 😃
Nice twist, Dedra. I also do not have a lot of DNF books on my shelf. I like you twist. I have The Writing Retreat on my TBR and am actually looking forward to finally getting to it. I hope these all pan out for you if and when you pick them up.
Oh, I’d love to hear what you think of The Writing Retreat!
Great list this week! I haven’t read any of them, but I love seeing cases where I (or other bloggers) enjoy a book that has mixed reviews instead of us always just reading the popular 5-star books. And welcome back! I’m glad you had a nice break.
My TTT: https://bookwyrmknits.com/2023/07/25/top-ten-tuesday-recent-dnfs/
Yes! Those are the reviews I need/want the most.
Love your tweak on this week’s TTT! The only one I’ve read is 99 Percent Mine and there were things I liked about it, and things that really frustrated me, especially with Darcy. I think I ended up giving it 3/5 stars.
Ah, ok. I haven’t read too deep into those mixed reviews, afraid of being spoiled, but that makes sense.
I LOVED The Nanny, but if you don’t like steamy, open-door scenes then you should pass. I also liked 99 Percent Mine but went in with low expectations. It is no The Hating Game.
Oh, I do like open-door! I just usually end up reading a lot of books that are closed-door, too. Great advice on 99 Percent Mine. With all the mixed reviews, I should be going into it with low expectations, right?! 😃
Yes, do.
Oh gosh, I can’t even give you some encouraging here as I haven’t read any of these….
I actually DNF rather easy, or perhaps just set it aside for the time being. I also like books with diverse ratings, it always make me curious!
Elza Reads
I think the mixed reviews make me more curious, too!
Good topic–submit it for us to all do! I haven’t read or dnf any of these
Thank you!
I’ve had Rooney’s book on my shelf since it came out but I still haven’t read it yet cos I love Normal People so much and it’s a book that has still stuck with me until now. I’m worried I won’t feel the same spark with this book (cos I also *strongly disliked* Rooney’s debut, lol). 😂 I hope you do end up enjoying these books, Dedra!
Ohhh, I get that! The fear of it not measuring up. Normal People was weird for me: I had mixed feelings while reading it, but I was also impressed with it, BUT I also couldn’t stop thinking about it. 😆 At this point, I’m just so curious about Beautiful World, I need to read it. Ha!
I hope you enjoy all of these! I don’t tend to look much at the reviews of a book before I read it, if it sounds interesting to me, I want to give it a try and decide for myself whether I like it or not: I’ve loved books that don’t have universally great or mixed reviews on Goodreads and I’ve hated books that have almost unanimously glowing reviews, so I definitely prefer to make up my own mind.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2023/07/25/top-ten-tuesday-430/
Yes! I will look at the ratings and skim my ‘friends’ reviews, but I never want to read too closely. I’m too afraid of spoilers. There are those books that I love the premise so much, I don’t read any reviews until after I’ve read it. And I’ve definitely read books that everyone was glowing about, but I didn’t like. That could be its own list. 😉
Yes, I’ve definitely accidentally come across spoilers when reading reviews before, so now I make a point not to until I’m done with the book.
Being spoiled when you’re not expecting to be, is no fun!
It really isn’t!