Tripping Over Books

Top Ten Underrated Books

I’m a big fan of this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, friends. It’s nice to be able to look at something quantitatively instead of having to MAKE CHOICES. We all know how hard it is to figure out which books to put on our lists each week. But finding the most LITERALLY underrated books on my Goodreads shelf was interesting and fun, and in some cases, surprising. I stuck to books I’ve already read so that I can better judge how egregious their lack of ratings are.

These are in order from highest under 2000 to lowest!

Guys. THIS SERIES THO. Do you like Sherlock retellings? BFF-turned-romance? Mysteries? Aussies? Family secrets? If you said “yes” to any combination of those things, you should absolutely read this series. I’ve read the whole thing (even though book 3 isn’t out in the US yet; I loved these books so much that I bought it from the Aussie publisher), and it was all amazing. Given how many people I know who’ve read and loved this series, I’m surprised that book 1 doesn’t have more than 2,000 ratings. Close though!

I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned this book on my blog before. It’s not YA (AT ALL), but I fucking love it. I LOVE IT. It started out as a serial release on Wattpad and I could not control my chill every time a new chapter was released. I’ve read this book so many times. May and Ben have such a REAL relationship. Ruthie Knox is taking her sweet time finishing book 2, but it makes me a little sad that this is such an underrated book because it’s so good.

So, I’m going to be honest right up front. This isn’t the easiest book to read. It’s a fantasy that takes place on an island that I imaged was somewhere like the South Pacific. The rest is hard to explain, so I won’t even try. There’s TONS of subtext and English-major analysis stuff going on, which is great. Lots to think about. Sometimes the text gets a little convoluted. I can see why maybe not a lot of people have read it or finished it or rated it, but none of this takes away from how brilliant it is. The world is like nothing–NOTHING–else I’ve ever read, and it’s one of those books that really leaves you in awe of the mind that created it.

SUUPER cute NA right here that I’m suuper surprised has so few ratings. (I should note for context that the most rated book on my shelves is THE HUNGER GAMES with over 4.2 million.) It’s been a little while since I read it, but I know it’s got the friends-turned-more thing going on and it’s just really sweet. Definitely worth a read if you’re looking for a light contemp.

God, this book is really good. It’s set in Spain, a gorgeous place, and I can’t think of a single other book set there, so that adds to the je ne sais quoi. It’s about teen pregnancy, which I know some people steer clear of, but this is a really wonderful story about the bonding between an expectant mother and her little nugget. Plus, there’s something really eye-catching about this cover. I don’t know.

Criminally underrated book, in my opinion. This book was SO GOOD. Great world-building, characters, magical system, romance, everything. I feel like this one is falling victim to the “I want to read this, but it’s not NEW new anymore, so I’m going to read this other book instead,” and that’s a real shame. It’s been one of my favorite books recently.

Another surprisingly underrated book. I thought that the first book in this series, THE HALLOWED ONES, was excellent on its own and didn’t necessarily need more, but I enjoyed this sequel quite a bit! The vampires in this series are awesomely terrifying, and the Amish angle is so intriguing.

See my rant about EVERY BREATH above. Read this book, please. Read this whole series. There will be no regrets.

You know how sometimes you read a book and you can spot things that maybe aren’t perfect but you’re just so enchanted with the language and the world and the characters that you really can’t bring yourself to care too much? This is one of those books for me. I loved it. Truly. I still think about it to this day.

I guess I’ll give this one a slight pass since it only just came out, but WHOA, this was a great book. I hope the number of ratings go up, especially since it’s a fast-paced, twisty sequel that’s just as good as–if not better than–the first.

Top Ten Beach Reads

For me, there are only a few qualities that I look for in the ideal beach read: One, nothing too big. If it’s going to block my sun and hurt my wrists, it’s a no. Two, keep it as light as possible. Lots of contemporary romances here, friends. Because, three, I like my beach reads to be lighter on the deep, heavy thoughts, convoluted plots that require my attention, complex elements that might confuse me, or things that might make me cry. When I’m at the beach or the pool, I’m getting up and down, maybe falling asleep, etc. So as much as I ADORE it, OUTLANDER is the epitome of a book I WOULDN’T bring to the beach with me.

That being said, this list is a mix of all kinds of things: specific books that I do actually think I would enjoy reading at the beach, books that I haven’t read but think would be great beach reads, authors that scream “beach” and “summer” to me, as well as my go-to beach read genres. All over the place!

I’m definitely planning on bringing THE ROSE AND THE DAGGER with me if I ever get my ass to the beach this summer. It’s on my “read me really soon” list because I NEED to know what happens with Khalid and Shazi. This is about as serious as my beach reads will get, friends.

Stephanie Perkins’ contemps are some of my very favorites. I’ve reread Anna and Isla so many times (but never Lola…interesting). These two would be perfect beach reads, along with Stephanie’s edited volume, SUMMER DAYS AND SUMMER NIGHTS. 

If I want my beach read to be lighthearted, sweet, and feel-good from top to bottom, I’ll grab one of the Penderwicks books. They have this really timeless quality about them, and two of them take place in the summertime. I just love these sisters. 

Guys. This is an example of not only an author I’d take with me to the beach, but a whole genre. Jay Crownover’s books are hot and full of drama, and I love them. I’d also grab books by Cora Carmack, Christina Lauren, Elle Kennedy, or Kristin Callahan if I were in the mood for something similar. 

A stand-in for all Sarah Dessen books. PERFECT beach reads for me. Not only do so many of her books take place at the beach, but they are also the perfect balance of feel-good romance and emotional roller coaster. 

I’m reading this one right now, so if I went to the beach today, I’d bring this with me. Again, about as serious as I’ll get at the beach. But it’s got some great elements so far: Russia, magic, a competition. Feels like it’s got a good pace so far, and that’s something I look for in a good beach read as well. 

I do love a good Sherlock retelling, and I think mysteries are great beach reads. I always used to bring those to the beach with me. Captivating and fun, they made the hottest part of the day go faster. I haven’t read this one yet, but it’s got potential. 

Ahhh, the historical romance. This is my go-to genre for just about any reading issue I’m having. Slump? Historical romance. Need something that I’ll finish fast? Historical romance. Feeling YA burnout? Historical romance. Looking for something sassy for the beach? Historical romance. I LOVE Julia Quinn. Her Bridgertons series is one of my favorites, and I’m excited to start this new series about the Bridgerton’s mother. I also love Sarah MacLean, Tessa Dare, Lauren Willig’s Pink Carnation series, and Lisa Kleypas to name a few others. LOVE this genre. 

I got the ebook of this as a gift from one of my previous secret sisters and I know that a ton of people loved it, so I really can’t wait to read this one. Sounds like an excellent beach read: romantic, dramatic, and obviously wonderful for a lover of British things.

Classic beach read. It’s got everything. Romance, road trips, feelings, playlists. I’d grab any Morgan Matson book aside from SECOND CHANCE SUMMER to bring to the beach with me. (There’s no crying in beach reading.) I’d also think about books by Jessi Kirby, Emery Lord, and Huntley Fitzpatrick.

What are some of your go-to beach reads?

Top Ten Bookworm Delights

Hello, dear ones! It’s been an age since I last posted, I know. I’m hoping to get back into the swing of things now, and decided that there could be no better way to do that than with this week’s Top Ten Tuesday about Bookworm Delights! Basically, this is a rundown of some of my FAVORITE things about being a bookworm. As I’m sure you all can imagine, this list could be a lot longer.

Special Editions

I’m a BIG book collector, guys. And I don’t just mean, “give me all the different books” kind. I’d say in the last year or so I’ve really gotten into collecting different editions of some of my favorites, and it’s become one of my favorite things to do as an avid reader and book lover. GIVE ME ALL THE BOOKS.

Deckled Edge Pages

Ooooh, I love deckled edge pages! The texture feels nice on my fingers and also gives me this really old-school feeling while I read, like I’m holding an antique book or something.

Embossed or Foiled Inside Covers

Taking off a book’s jacket and checking out the inside cover is one of the best parts about books, in my opinion. It’s such a cool secret thing. I especially love when it hints at something from the book, which they almost always do. So basically that means I love this all the time.

MAPS

OF COURSE I LOVE MAPS. Maps are amazing. Not only are they practically helpful while you’re reading, but a lot of times they’re also aesthetically pleasing. They enhance my reading experience so much, and discovering new maps is one of the best things about being a bookworm.

Handmade Bookmarks

I love me some handmade bookmarks! Etsy is a bookmark-lovers dream. One of my favorite stores for bookish handmade bookmarks is Skinny Hues–I love her watercolors and the paper she uses! (You can click on the image to go to her shop!) But really, any handmade bookmark will do it for me. I love the organic look of them.

Gushing Over Favorite Books

Isn’t this just the best thing? Finding someone who loves one of your favorite books as much as you do and getting all excited about your favorite parts and the things you love? I think it is. Having this kind of experience with other bookworms is such an important link between people, and it’s often–for me, anyway–the foundation of something that grows bigger and beyond books. THAT’S SPECIAL AF.

Spine Cracking

Most bookworms might cringe at this, but rest assured: I don’t mean BREAKING the spine. I mean that sound a spine makes when a book is opened for the first time. When it’s FRESH out of the box or bag. It’s the bookworm equivalent of doing that crackle test on a loaf of bread. (You know that scene from Ratatouille?)

Used Bookstores

I don’t really have any used bookstores that are near me, but every time I visit Alyssa, we always make a trip to the Book Barn, and I never leave empty handed. As much as I love the feel of a new book, I also appreciate well-loved ones, and there’s always a few of those on the shelves. Also, used bookstores are great places for filling out collections.

Shelf Organizing

I don’t have enough shelves for all of my books, so this is more like my bookworm-ish daydream. But I do reorganize the shelves and piles I have, and it’s kind of sweaty (um, for me anyway), invigorating work. Who needs to do yard work when you can move piles of books around?

Reading Outside

Now that the weather is nicer, this is one of my favorite things to do. Take my book outside and devour a good chunk. I always read a ton when I’m outside. I have fewer distractions, and it’s perfect for totally getting lost in what I’m reading.

Top Ten Books I Love That I Haven’t Talked About Lately

Well, isn’t this topic super fun?! I love talking about books that I love, but I REALLY love shining light on books I love that have started to fade into the annals of my inner book hall of fame. These are some of my holy grail favorite books, guys. Not all of them, but some. I hope we can fangirl together over a few!

I know I’ve mentioned before how GRACELING was one of the first YA books I’ve ever read, but I’ll say it again: GRACELING was one of the first YA books I ever read. I think I remember seeing it mentioned in People Magazine, maybe, and I was intrigued. I bought my copy at Borders (RIP), and then proceeded to fall completely for Katsa, Po, and the world Kristin Cashore created.  When I first saw this week’s topic, the first book that came to mind was THE PROBABILITY OF MIRACLES by Wendy Wunder. I cried like a colicky infant when I read this book, and I still do think about the magical weirdness in it, as well as the heart-yanking sadness.  It’s been a while since I talked about ELEANOR & PARK! I don’t know why! This book made such an impact on me because of both the excellent story and because it introduced me to Rainbow Rowell.  I’ve read AMY & ROGER’S EPIC DETOUR, no joke, at least five times. Roger Sullivan is the ULTIMATE good-guy book crush, and the road trip he and Amy take is so full of adventure and surprises and a slow-burn relationship that I LOVE. Plus the scrapbook pages and the playlists are incredibly fun.  UGLY SOBSSSSS. I’ve had A MONSTER CALLS on the brain recently because of the movie trailer that came out maybe a month or so ago. It looks amazing, and it reminded me why I love this book so much: my feels barely survived. BARELY. This book is so profound and lovely and sad.
This book sits on the end of one of my shelves and because of its place, I stare at often. GAH, I just love this whole series, but there is something really special about DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE. Maybe it’s Brimstone, maybe it’s the Poison Kitchen. It’s most likely Karou and Akiva, though. (Full disclosure: You know how you can name your Apple devices? My computer is Karou.) Karou, Akiva, and the luscious language and world-building of Laini Taylor. Pro tip? The audiobooks are excellent.  To this day, CHAMPION remains one of the best series ending books I can remember reading. I cried, then I cried more, then the hope came. I loved Day and June from the beginning, but seeing them come completely full circle in CHAMPION was so special and satisfying.  Another amazing audiobook! Talk about magical. There’s been lots of name-dropping of THE NIGHT CIRCUS lately, and I have to admit, it’s a surefire way to get me interested in a book. It’s not easy for me to describe this book: there’s magic and romance and things that only exist in your wildest imagination. This is me waiting very impatiently for Erin Morgenstern’s next book. (THE NIGHT CIRCUS came out FIVE YEARS AGO OMG!) If people ask my what my favorite book is, I’ll inevitably name either THE SCORPIO RACES (which escaped being on this list because I talk about it ALL THE TIME) and/or this, THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE. I’ve been really thinking about this one a lot lately, and haven’t reread it in awhile (I have read it, I think, six times). I LIVE for this book. LIVE!THE PENDERWICKS is one of those books that I remember with so much fondness. The Penderwick sisters are so damn charming and heartwarming. Legit one of the brightest, sweetest MGs ever.

What are some of YOUR favorites?