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 That Defied My Expectations (books you thought you wouldn’t like that you loved, books you thought you’d love but didn’t, books that were not the genres they seemed to be, or in any other way subverted your expectations!) (Submitted by Sia @ everybookadoorway.com)
Hello Readers! September has arrived and while August was wonderfully long for me, now I’m scrambling to catch up on all things blogging. I’d put so many things on hold while I participated in a readathon during last month and then also ended up under the weather, but I’ve made a to-do list, which always helps to motivate me. 😃
Today we’re looking at books that defied our expectations. I’ve decided to focus on 10 books I went into either knowing very little about OR I’d heard the hype and just didn’t believe it, BUT they blew my away.
Let’s see what I found!
(Link to Goodreads synopsis through book title.)
- A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson – I believe I found this book via Instagram. Beautifully written, I’ve since read several more of the author’s books.
- The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo – I read this familial novel as an ARC and it was my favorite book of the year in 2019.
- The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede – A timely book to mention at the start of September, if you haven’t read this nonfiction book about the planes stranded in Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11, I highly recommend it. It just might restore your faith in humans.
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller – I’d heard this retelling was phenomenal, but I had no idea. Breathtaking!
- The Hating Game by Sally Thorne – I LOVED this romance, wishing I’d picked it up sooner.
- Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis – I still find myself thinking about this debut I read over three years ago. It solidified the author as a must-read for me.
- Slanted and Disenchanted by Lisa Czarina Michaud – When this author reached out and invited me to read her debut, I knew nothing about the author or book, but I was intrigued by the fact it was set in the late 90s and dealt with musicians. It became one of my favorite books of the year in 2021.
- Alias Emma by Ava Glass – Another debut that blew me away, this female spy novel set in London was fun, nonstop action. I’m currently reading the sequel, The Traitor!
- Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert – It’s so rare for a sequel to top its predecessor, but the second book in The Brown Sisters trilogy was my favorite, getting five stars.
- Small Joys by Elvin James Mensah – This beautiful, quiet novel from this year deserves so much more attention. I loved every word.
Did I include any of your favorites? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
The Day the World Came to Town was beautiful. I’m glad you liked it, too.
Here is my Top Ten Tuesday post.
Yes! So happy I finally read it last year.
I ADORE Talia Hibbert and it always makes me super happy when other people love her books too!
I’ve only read The Brown Sister series by her, but I’m anxious to read more!
The Song of Achilles is still on my TBR. I’m still not sure I believe the hype, honestly. (And also? That’s a great TTT topic idea!)
My TTT: https://bookwyrmknits.com/2023/09/05/top-ten-tuesday-books-that-defied-my-expectations/
Haha! I hear you. I felt the same. I was engrossed. I’d say just try reading the first few chapters and see if it grabs you. That’s what happened to me. And I think I’ve done that TTT topic recently. 🤔 One week maybe when I went rogue?? 😂
I loved The Hating Game, too. It got a lot of hype around the time I read it, so I was thinking it might have been overblown but it wasn’t.
Gosh, it was just the right book at the right time for me. If only we could know which hyped books we’d love! Haha!
I am always surprised when a debut novel is amazing 🙂 Have a great week!
Yes! It’s always such a nice surprise.
The Day the World Came to Town blew me away, too. That’s one of my all-time favorite books. Great list! 😀
Yes! I heard the hype, but thought it would be so sad. It was wonderful.
Yes, Emmie Blue! That was an a random library pick for me, and it was the best
It was a random ARC invitation for me. One I could have easily passed on. It’s books like that that always makes it hard to say no to invitations. Ha!
THE DAY THE WORLD CAME TO TOWN is a great one. Even though it’s about such a tragic event, it’s such a warm, uplifting read. Everyone should read it and September is a great time to do it!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Yes! I love books that take a hard subject and find the joy. It’s such a challenge.
The Day the World Came to Town and Dear Emmie Blue are both favourites of mine. Some other interesting books on her that I will need to check out. Great list, Dedra.
I think it might have been you who convinced me to pick up The Day the World Came to Town. 😉 Happy reading in September, Carla!
It was Carol over at The Reading Ladies that recommended it to me. What a great community we have. 😊 Have a great weekend, Dedra.
Yes!! I love it!