Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week a new theme is suggested for bloggers to participate in. This week’s prompt is Books I Bought/Borrowed Because… (Fill in the blank. You can do 10 books you bought for the same reason, i.e., pretty cover, recommended by a friend, blurbed by favorite authors, etc. OR you could do a different reason for each pick.) I decided to do a little bit of a twist on the prompt this week.
Hello Readers! I hope you are all staying healthy and safe. How is everyone doing? We’ve all been there–you see a book recommended by everyone, but you’re not sure if you’re interested. You don’t add it to your TBR, but everyone is STILL talking about it so you finally cave and pick it up. Here are ten books I read because of… well, because of YOU!
(Link to Goodreads synopsis through book title.)
1
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
The Unhoneymooners was my first Christina Lauren book, and I’m so happy I finally caved to the peer pressure to read this one!
Would I reread it? YES!
2
A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer was everywhere I looked for so long. I’d never read a Beauty and the Beast retelling, so I was intrigued. And while this one was fun, I didn’t fall head over heels like everyone else. Now I’m seeing all the love for the sequel. Will I cave again??
Would I reread it? Nah.
My review
3
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
I was a few years late to Cinder, but everyone was still talking about it. And even though it wasn’t my typical genre, when I found a copy of Cinder on paperbackswap.com, I snatched it up. I’m so happy I did. Each book gets better and better, which is rare. (Cress is my favorite, though!)
Would I reread it? Yes! I already have. 😉
4
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
It took years of peer pressure for me to finally buckle and pick up Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. In fact, I buckled and bought it, then it sat on my shelf until I had to buckle again and finally read it. It’s a huge commitment to pick this one up, but it’s so worth it! (At the time of this writing, it’s currently available for $1.99 on Amazon!)
Would I reread it? Yes!
5
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
I was very late to this book, too. It sat on my shelf for a long time, but it sounded like a book I would love. I mean, I loved Outlander and it’s about time-travel. But this was one that was overhyped for me.
Would I reread it? Nope.
6
The Kiss Quotient Helen Hoang
I resisted this one as long as I could. I hate math and almost anything to do with math. But I loved this book. It was a breath of fresh air!
Would I reread it? YES!
7
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Night Circus was another book that was perfect for me on paper, but I was left underwhelmed by it. It was beautifully written, but I didn’t feel a big connection with the characters.
Would I reread it? Nah.
8
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
I love to be immersed in book worlds, and I’d repeatedly heard the Shadowhunter world is immersive. I finally picked up City of Bones, the first Shadowhunter book written by Cassandra Clare, and while it’s not her most well-written book, the world she created was unique and immersive. Each book gets better (I promise!), and it’s worth it just to get to The Infernal Devices. 😉
Would I reread it? Yes!
9
You by Caroline Kepnes
So many people said this was one of the scariest books they’d ever read, and I finally decided to give it a chance. While it wasn’t a keep-me-up-at-night kind of scary, it was thrilling. What’s great is how Caroline Kepnes manages to make you like Joe. At least in the beginning. 😉
Would I reread it? Probably not, but I’m glad I read it once.
10
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
I’d seen To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han recommended FOREVER. When I’d heard it was becoming a Netflix movie, I decided it was time to pick it up. I’m so happy I did! Lara Jean is a pure soul. I recommend the entire series!
Would I reread it? Yes!
My Review
Did you read any of these books because of peer pressure, too? What’s your favorite book you’ve read because of peer pressure? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
I had a similar theme with mine, only I called it the hype. Hype, peer pressure, it’s interchangeable with this topic. 🙂 I forgot to mention City of Bones and The Kiss Quotient in mine–I thought they were both okay though.
Ha! Yes, peer pressure definitely results from the hype. I’m excited to take a look at yours, now!
I have read several of these and a lot because of a similar reason! Book blogger recs! Such good books!
It’s why we’re all here, right?? 😉
I recognized some of the books at least. http://pmprescott.blogspot.com/2020/04/ttt-040720.html
Ha! They are highly hyped ones. 😉
I’m not sure. Some books are really popular but I read the synopsis and realize it wouldn’t be for me, you know? But I definitely buy books that other bloggers recommend!
And I bought The Kiss Quotient because of the math, LOL. She was a very relatable character for me.
It sounds like you know what you like and won’t be swayed by what others think! That’s great! I need more of that. I’m definitely a follower. Ha!
I’m envious of people who like math. My brain was not made for it. 😉
I totally read Cinder because of the blogging community. I was so skeptical, but I ended up loving the series because it’s so unique and fun!! I can see why you picked most of these up– they are all very much hyped books in the book communities!! (Also, YES to Lara Jean!! Love her).
Yes! Most of the books I pick up because of the hype, I do end up enjoying. The Lunar Chronicles is one of my favorites. Now I’m the one pressuring everyone to read it. 😉
Many of the books I’ve picked up were in part because of hype. The Lunar Chronicles was one I resisted because it was being hyped, and after I read it I was hooked and it’s one of my favorite series.
My TTT: Marie @ Pages to Explore
That seems to be what everyone is saying about The Lunar Chronicles! We all picked it up because of the hype and loved it. 🙂
I felt the same way about A Curse So Dark and Lonely and The Night Circus, distinctly underwhelmed by both! I actually did like The Time Traveler’s Wife, but I read it a few years ago, so I don’t know if I ‘d feel the same way now. I also enjoyed You, though it was very disturbing, but I liked the TV show better. I love Outlander the show, but I’m actually not sure if I’d like the books, I don’t mind that level of romance on screen but I think I’d find it frustrating to read about! Don’t know why, but I’ve always enjoyed on-screen romances more than book ones.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/07/top-ten-tuesday-258/
I’m glad I’m not alone with my feelings about A Curse So Dark and Lonely and The Night Circus! I know I’m in the minority. And I actually liked The Time Traveler’s Wife movie better than the book. Ha! I forgot about that. I did like the Netflix adaptation of You, too. And I love watching Outlander, too. What I love about the books is getting all the background and thoughts we don’t get with the show. But I understand where you’re coming from. The romance in the book is quite intense!
There’s a lot of books that I’ve picked up through recommendations, quite a few that are on this list. I’ve not read a curse so dark and lonely yet but I want to.
Here’s my TTT https://bookwormsanonymous.blog/2020/04/07/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-bought-because-i-loved-the-cover/
Yes, it’s why we’re all here, right? To find and discover our next favorite book. 😉
What a great idea for a post! It’s so cool to see how other bloggers have influenced your reading habits. I may have to borrow this idea and write my own sometime. 😀
My TTT .
Borrow away! It was a fun list to do–thinking back over my books and remembering how I picked them out. 🙂
I also read To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before because of peer pressure! And I’m so glad I did–it was exactly what I needed to read at the time! <3
Yes! More often than not, the peer pressure to read has a good result! 😉
I read the Lunar Chronicles because I kept seeing those books everywhere on Bookstagram, and loved it! I also loved Outlander and The Kiss Quotient, but those weren’t influenced by peer pressure 😀
My TTT: https://www.traversingchapters.com/top-ten-tuesday-ten-books-i-bought-because/
It seems most people are saying they read The Lunar Chronicles because of the hype! 😉 It just shows how word of mouth can influence the success of a book, right? <3
Wow! Such a great list! I love most of those books and may have been peer pressured to read them but no regrets! ?
Such a great list! I adored most of those books and may have been peer pressured to read some of them. But I have to say, no regrets! So thankful for their pressure ?
Ha! Yes, I’m always thankful for the peer pressure. And then I pass it on. 😉
Same here! ?
This is a really interesting twist! I find that I don’t necessarily cave in to peer pressure so much when it comes to books, not sure why though. It’s good to hear that you find each Lunar Chronicles book gets better, I’ve been meaning to get to the last three soon.
You’re probably more of a leader than a follower. I’m definitely a follower. 😉
I wasn’t a fan of The Night Circus either. I liked some of the imagery for sure but found the plot extremely lacking. It’s turned me off of her other book The Starless Sea…I doubt I will pick that one up even though it’s been hyped quite a bit on Goodreads.
I’ve also been hesitant about The Starless Sea since I didn’t love The Night Circus. But then I see people saying they liked it better and I feel the pressure. Ha! The only reason I’d be interested in picking it up now is to see if they’re right. I’m such a sucker for the hype. 😉
Yup, I’ll admit that I cave to peer pressure when it comes to books sometimes, too! The ones I can think of at the moment include Murderbot (LOVE IT, would absolutely re-read), The Night Circus (also enjoyed and would re-read), and The Name of the Wind (which I couldn’t even finish because I didn’t like it enough).
But even with the peer pressure, I’m STILL late to the party on Cinder. I still haven’t picked up that series yet, even though I intend to…
Oooh, I’ve never heard of Murderbot! I’ll be looking that up. 😉 I’ve seen The Name of the Wind recommended, too, but haven’t picked it up. It has such mixed reviews!
I hope you finally pick up Cinder! Even if you don’t love the first one, I encourage people to push on. I think each one gets better and they’re worth it to get to Cress!
Nice list you have here! Reading from peer pressure and hype is such a weird thing for me. I usually avoid it if possible because I’m often in the minority in a lot of my book opinions, and the more I see people praising or enjoying a certain book, the less I tend to enjoy it. Because of that, I’ve grown more careful with what I read based off of recommendations. I also can’t think of a book off the top of my head that I read from peer pressure and absolutely loved…
The only book here I’ve read is A Curse so Dark and Lonely, and I absolutely loved it to the point of buying it right after and already wanting to reread it. Some of these others are on my TBR list though: The Lunar Chronicles, the Lara Jean series, and The kiss Quotient.
Sounds like you know what you like, and not buckling under peer pressure works for you! That’s awesome! Thankfully, most of the books I read because of peer pressure, I end up enjoying. 🙂
Yes, I’m definitely in the minority on A Curse So Dark and Lonely. I hope you love the others on your tbr. They were some of my favorites!
I thought for years that like I should read Night Circus, because it’s not only so hyped, but also because it’s one of the first traditionally published NaNoWriMo novels. I told myself I should really support a fellow Wrimo who made it. But what I’ve read about the writing style just does not sound like my kind of thing at all. Maybe someday though…I can at least give it a try.
I felt the same way since I’m a Wrimo, too. I actually thought it was beautifully written, but I didn’t think there was enough character development. I wanted to know them better. You should give it a try! Maybe check it out of the library, though. 😉
All of these are so hyped and they’ve made it onto my TBR for the same reasons as you! I still have to read quite a few of them (Outlander really intimidates me–the books are so chunky and the series so long?! ?) but I also totally agree with you about some of these being duds. I didn’t enjoy The Night Circus half as much as everyone else seemed to love it! Lol great list 😀
It took me YEARS to finally pick up Outlander. But no regrets. Loved the first one, the second was harder to get through, but then I loved the third one, too. I’ve only made it through the first five, though. 😉
So many good books in your list! Looks like peer pressure worked out for you haha.
Ha! Yes, it has forced me to pick up some books I now love. <3
Ah, peer pressure. There’s a lot of that in books, but usually it’s a good thing. I’m glad you found some good ones that way.
Yes! More often than not, it has a positive result for me, too. 🙂
From what I’ve seen, people who were lukewarm about A Curse So Dark and Lonely seem to really like A Heart So Fierce and Broken, if that helps. xD Since our opinions about the first book were completely opposite, I’d say that I wasn’t fond of the second book, so maybe you’ll love it?! Haha.
The Night Circus didn’t work for you? Yikes. I’m afraid that’s where I’ll land, too, from what I’ve heard. I got a copy of this last year, and I keep putting off reading it, because it seems like one of those books you either hate or love. But if I just … don’t read it … well, then it’s Shroedinger’s book and I simultaneously hate and love it and the world is all good and in perfect balance. xD
You know, that’s what I’ve noticed, too. Maybe someday I’ll pick up A Heart So Fierce and Broken. 🙂
I did enjoy the writing of The Night Circus, but I prefer character-driven books, and I didn’t feel like I knew the characters well enough. But I love your thought process! I’ve also avoided books for the very same reason!
I adore To All the Boys; it’s just such a happy-go-lucky kind of series! Still have to read book three though. Ooo! And despite the hype, I’m curious about ‘Curse.’ I love the idea of a B&TB re-telling, so we’ll see how that excitement pans out. 😉
Oh I hope you enjoy book three of To All the Boys as much as I did! And you should definitely give ACSDAL a try! Most everyone else loved it. 🙂