The topic for Top Ten Tuesday this week is “Books I Enjoyed but Rarely Talk About”. You can find the host of top ten tuesday here. This one was a bit hard for me because I feel like I’ve been using these lists as excuses to talk about books that aren’t as popular. But there are some books that I really enjoyed that haven’t fit into a blog post or a video so here they are, in no particular order.
- Zenn Diagram by Wendy Brant
A hard-hitting young adult contemporary with magical elements, this was a really unique plot and it really kept me engaged in the story from the start.
- Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
I read this because I saw the movie and absolutely loved it and the book is just as good. It’s another hard-hitting young adult contemporary and the themes are handled really well. The characters and plots of Judy Blume’s books always feel so real and are so grounded in reality and this book is no different. It’s a short, quick read but still enjoyable.
- Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone
This book focuses on a teenage girl with OCD and her struggles with trying to cope with and accept her OCD. It’s so satisfying to read about her journey towards happiness and how she discovers her own identity apart from the one that she has so carefully curated. I just loved this book so much.
- The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
This is the first book of a duology, there was also a tv show, with the same name, based on these books but it did take many liberties with the story. It’s just a fun story of a girl figuring out who she is and experiencing many different firsts in her love life. Also her friends have similarly entertaining stories which are a good time.
- Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham
I absolutely loved this book! If you love Lauren Graham and Gilmore Girls then you will also enjoy this book. There’s really nothing else I can say about it.
- The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I really related to the main character and to her struggles with her mental health. This book is somewhat regarded as a classic but I don’t see many people raving about it and I don’t know why because it’s so interesting. The fact that it’s semi-autobiographical also makes this book so fascinating and so grounded because of how the author’s own experiences influenced the story so you, as the reader, can connect with the story in a unique way.
- Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum
I really, truly enjoyed this book and I love stories where the romance starts anonymously meanwhile the characters are interacting in person and have no idea about it. The reason why I don’t mention this book a lot is because there are other books that did this better. This book tries to create a mystery where there isn’t one, it’s an obvious conclusion and so many other books know that it’s obvious so they announce it up front. Basically, it’s an enjoyable love story but you just have to overlook how it tries to create suspense where there is none.
- How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry
I love books (and movies) that follow a bunch of different people’s love stories that are all interconnected, especially this book because the characters are connected through a bookshop so it’s perfect for book lovers.
- All of This is True by Lygia Day Penaflor
The best way to go into this book is to know absolutely nothing about it.
- Beautiful Mess by Claire Christian
Another hard-hitting young adult contemporary that centers on two characters trying to figure out their lives. This book was so enjoyable and it had such a refreshing conclusion.
