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 Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time!
Hello Readers! I hope you’re all well and safe during these trying times. If you haven’t already, be sure to enter my Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery Giveaway! Today is the last day!
We made it home from our vacation! It was the first real vacation we’ve had since 2019, and while I enjoyed getting away, I couldn’t shake some of the frustrations that built during our stay. When we planned our trip, things were much better here in the states but then the Delta variant took over. It was too late to cancel our trip, so we decided to forge ahead. Despite all being fully vaccinated, we masked up and kept our distance whenever we were indoors. It was frustrating, however, to find that in many stores and restaurants—despite having signs on the doors and messages on their websites promoting the requirement of masks—employees and patrons would be maskless.
It’s been hard to watch how quickly Covid has taken over again here in the south. Especially knowing it’s avoidable. Every day I hear of someone else who is in the hospital. And they’re all unvaccinated. Our doctors and nurses are overworked, our hospitals are overflowing. Masks and vaccines are a simple way to protect ourselves and others. They’re not political statements, but safety precautions. Like a bandage or a seatbelt. Please, if you haven’t done it already—and you’re able to—get vaccinated! Let’s protect the young and immunocompromised who are unable to get vaccines.
Okay, that’s all for my PSA! 😉 Today, we’re talking about books we wish we could reread again for the first time. I LOVE to reread books so this is an easy prompt for me. In fact, I could list many, many more than ten books. Let’s see what I chose (in no particular order)!
(Link to Goodreads synopsis through book title.)
- Outlander (Outlander, #1) by Diana Gabaldon – I’d heard for YEARS that Outlander was unlike anything else but I was scared of this hefty book. Once I finally read it, I understood the hype.
- Just One Day by Gayle Forman – I’d seen this one recommended for fans of travel romance and once I finally read it, I was in love. I immediately wished I could unread it to read it again.
- Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis – I read an ARC of this romance last year and it swept me off my feet! Such a lovely surprise.
- The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater – The first book I remember being truly shocked by the twist. Also it’s beautifully written.
- Beach Read by Emily Henry – From my original review: “Do you know that feeling when you read a book and it’s so good that when you finish it, you wish you could unread it and read it all over again for the first time? That’s where I am, thanks to Emily Henry.”
- Darkfever (Fever, #1) by Karen Marie Moning – I remember searching for a book series that readers said they were obsessed with and this one came up repeatedly. I decided to give it a try. I was soon obsessed.
- The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) by Stieg Larsson – I remember being consummed by this book, ignoring everything and everyone else around me.
- The Emperor’s Edge (The Emperor’s Edge, #1) by Lindsay Buroker – I’ve read this first book several times and it’s still one of my favorite ensemble books. Just so much fun!
- Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1) by Cassandra Clare – Oh man. How amazing it would be to relive this entire series again for the first time!
- We Were Liars by E. Lockhart – I remember being so consumed by this book. I also read it while on the beach so I’m sure that only emphasized the experience.
Did I include any of your favorites? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
I would totally jump at the chance to reread The Infernal Devices too! That series is amazing!
Also, I agree with your PSA statement. I’m in Sri Lanka and things are looking terrible here right now. Hospitals overflowing and understaffed, healthcare workers overworked and a majority are infected. And some people still don’t get vaccinated! It’s just absurd!
I’m so sorry Hasini! It is absurd. I will never understand it.
I still remember how I felt reading The Infernal Devices for the first time. SUCH a great series. <3
<3
Quite a few of the books on your list are books that are still waiting for first reads from my side! Beach Read, We were liars, Clockwork Angel, Dear Emmie Blue and Just one day!
The girl with the Dragon Tattoo made it to my list as well today.
Happy TTT!
Elza Reads
Ooooh, I’m a little jealous that so many of these will be first reads for you. 😉 I would love to hear what you think about any of them.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was so immersive!
We were lucky that our holiday was just before the delta caught hold, but I was seeing so many people and venues not sticking to the rules that the frustration was there.
Oh, that is lucky! It’s so frustrating. Sometimes it feels like we’re fighting a battle we can’t win. And we have the tools to stop it. 🤦♀️
I feel the same way. Masks, weirdly, have gotten really politicized here to the point where people are arguing bitterly about them, inundating school board meetings with “information”… it’s wild. anywho…yes to We were Liars! That book was a trip. 🙂
Ugh! Yes, same here. Our governor said masks couldn’t be mandated and then he came down with Covid. 🤦♀️
We Were Liars WAS a trip! Perfect description. 😉
I totally agree with your little PSA, Dedra! I have to admit that it’s quite frustrating seeing people who have access to the vaccine refuse to get it, especially while in places like Indonesia (and other lower income countries) we don’t even have enough vaccines for everyone. 🥺 Sad… But I do hope people wake up and get it!
Also, I absolutely would love to read We Were Liars again as if it were the first time. The twist! So good 😍 Great list!
I know Dini! It’s ridiculous. If people are going to continue to reject the vaccine, they should lose privileges like eating at restaurants and attending events. And then the extra vaccines should be given to people around the world that want them. Unfortunately around here, it takes someone getting terribly sick or losing a loved one to change their minds. Hopefully people WILL wake up soon!
Oh, the twist was such a good one in We Were Liars! So very well done!
Great PSA, I hope that people who are still waiting to get vaccinated look at the numbers and decide it’s not worth the risk to remain unvaccinated. I’m glad you were able to enjoy your vacation even with everything going on!
I’ve heard so many great things about Beach Read! I might just need to pick that one up.
Yes! Maybe since the FDA finally approved one people will trust them more??
Oh, I loved Beach Read so much. I’m hoping to reread it soon. 😉
Fingers crossed!
I’ve heard so many good things about Beach Read. I don’t read many romances these days, but maybe this will be one of them.
It’s a romance with depth and a serious side, if you like that. In fact, so many people say the cover doesn’t match the book, but I absolutely loved it. I would love to hear your thoughts if you decide to pick it up. 🙂
I enjoy romance with depth especially if I know what I’m getting into, so thank you for the note! I can see where the cover would lead some people to think it was more of a fluffy romance, though.
Yes! It could have used a better cover and title.
Emmie Blue was one of the most beautiful books! So many feels! I loved the Just One Day books too. I was so grateful for that final novella. Seriously, I was a puddle when all was reveals in We Were Liars.
Yes to everything you said! The final Just One novella was so sweet. And the twist in We Were Liars was so well done. I’m just glad I didn’t even know there was a twist coming when I read it for the first time. 😉
Interesting list, I have not read any of the books on your list, but several look like ones I would like. Thanks for sharing! My list is here: https://cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com/2021/08/top-ten-tuesday-reread-for-first-time.html
Oh yay!! I hope you find one you love. <3
Oh man, yes to Clockwork Angel!!! Ahh! That entire series is a masterpiece.
Genesis @ Whispering Chapters
Yes!!! I’ve reread it so many times. 😃
Beach Read would definitely be on my list too, I absolutely loved it! I really want to read Dear Emmy Blue next, love the premise of that one.
Oh, I think you’ll enjoy Dear Emmy! It’s beautifully written. <3
We share Outlander on our lists. I was so transported by that story. And it would be great to be able to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for the first time again. Like you, I was completely consumed by that one – and the whole series!
Yay!! Those were two books I kind of put off reading (especially Outlander) and then wished I would have read sooner as soon as I finished. 🙂