Top Ten Tuesday - Books I Liked More Than I Thought I Would

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's topic is: Books I Liked More Than I Thought I Would.  I decided to just talk about books I've read in the past two years or so.

The Diviners (and Lair of Dreams) by Libba Bray

I read these two books last year and I really enjoyed them a lot.  The overall atmosphere of these books really makes them stick out in your head and I wasn't expecting that.  

The Winner's Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski

When I first read the synopsis of this series it sounded like a lot of other books out there and because of that I didn't pick it up for a while until I started hearing a lot of people rave about it and then I ended up flying through the books.  I really liked the story and how smart the main character was.

More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera

This book had so many twists and turns that I wasn't expecting it to have and because of that I ended up loving it more than I thought I would.  

What If by Rebecca Donovan

I really liked this book and I thought it had a lot more depth to it than I was expecting.  It's definitely a book that I think people shouldn't read up on too much before reading it because it will be easily spoiled. 

Orange: The Complete Collection by Ichigo Takano

I really wasn't expecting to like this manga as much as I did.  The synopsis sounded good but I was really shocked at how emotional and beautiful the story was.

Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard

I read this book recently and I was really surprised at much I liked the story.  You can find my review of it here.

Solanin by Inio Asano

This is another book I read fairly recently and I loved it.  I wasn't expecting this manga to be so relatable and because of that I ended liking it a lot more than I expected.  You can read my review of it here.

The Square Root of Summer by Harriet Reuter Hapgood

I was wary to read this book because I heard a lot mixed reviews on it but it sounded so interesting that I just decided to read it and I'm glad I did.

A Silent Voice by Yoshitoki Oima

This was another manga that I ended up enjoying a lot more than I thought I would.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

I was surprised at how much I ended up loving this book.  I thought it would take me a while to get into the story but I ended up really loving this book from the start.

What books did you like more than you thought you would?  

Book Review: Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard

Book: Beautiful Broken Things
Author: Sara Barnard
Genre: YA Contemporary

I was brave

She was reckless 

We were trouble

Best friends Caddy and Rosie are inseparable. Their differences have brought them closer, but as she turns sixteen Caddy begins to wish she could be a bit more like Rosie – confident, funny and interesting. Then Suzanne comes into their lives: beautiful, damaged, exciting and mysterious, and things get a whole lot more complicated.

As Suzanne’s past is revealed and her present begins to unravel, Caddy begins to see how much fun a little trouble can be. But the course of both friendship and recovery is rougher than either girl realises, and Caddy is about to learn that downward spirals have a momentum of their own. - Quoted from Goodreads

My Rating: 4/5 STARS

My Review:
I really liked Beautiful Broken Things and I felt it was very refreshing to read because this is a YA contemporary that doesn't focus on romance (in fact there was no romance at all) but instead it focuses on the friendship between the three main female characters.  The relationships between the three girls felt so intricate and real that you can't help but want to keep reading to see how they all end up.

In the beginning Caddy becomes jealous of Rosie and Suzannes friendship and I was wary because I thought that that would be the main theme of the rest of the book but I was glad that I was quickly proven wrong.  Beautiful Broken Things is about the friendships between all three girls and it deals with the trials and tribulations that come with it.  I liked seeing the gradual growth of their friendships and I liked how it focused on both the positive and negative sides of friendship.

I liked reading about how different their friendships with each other were, like Caddy and Rosie's long lasting friendship, Caddy and Suzanne's friendship that's only beginning, Rosie and Suzanne's friendship from Caddy's point of view and then seeing them all together.

I can't say I loved the characters because some of their actions annoyed me but I definitely found them interesting to read especially the mystery of Suzannes past and how it affects her current situation.

I was surprised how deep and emotional the storyline got as it went along and I liked how the author ended the book.  This book has some serious topics in it such as mental illness and abuse but I felt it dealt with it in a very real way. 

Overall I really liked Beautiful Broken Things and I think that it definitely stands out in its genre for not focusing on romance but on the strong bonds of friendship.  I can't wait to read more books by Sara Barnard. 

Book Review: A Curious Tale of the In-Between by Lauren DeStefano

Book: A Curious Tale of the In-Between
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Genres: Paranormal, mystery

Pram Bellamy has always seen the two worlds around her: That of the living-happy and dull. And that of the dead-hiding unnoticed behind every door. But the orphaned Pram much prefers the company of the ghosts that only she can see, especially that of her best friend, Felix.

Then Pram meets Clarence, a boy from school who has also lost a parent. Together they arrive at the door of the mysterious Lady Savant, who promises to help. But this spiritualist knows the true nature of Pram's power, and what she has planned is more terrifying than any ghost.

Praised as a “moving and multilayered tale” New York Times bestselling author Lauren Destefano's unforgettable story of friendship, love, and what lies hidden in between is not to be missed.  -Quoted from Goodreads


My Rating: 4/5 STARS
My Review:
The reason I picked up this book was because of the author.  I've read a lot of Lauren DeStefano books and I love her writing style.  And even though I haven't read many children's books I decided to read this after reading a few snippets Lauren DeStefano released on twitter of it.

I really liked this book and I'm glad I picked it up.  This story is about a little girl named Pram and her unique ability to see ghosts.  The book explores serious topics such as looking for a place to belong.

The main thing I liked about this book, which was also the reason I wanted to read it, was the writing of it.  Lauren DeStefano has a really unique writing style.  It's hard to describe but it really draws you into the story and I just feel that I really connect with the writing style.

I liked the story and that surprised me because I expected the story to be more suited to children, and I thought I might find it boring in parts because of that but I found the story to be really interesting.

I really liked Pram, I thought she was a great character that was fun to read about.  I liked reading about her relationship with her aunts and her friendships with Felix and Clarence.  Although I would've liked to have seen more of her friendship with Felix.
Overall I enjoyed this book and I think it's a really fun read.

January 2017 Reading Wrap Up

In January I read five books and here is a list of them and some of my thoughts about them.

The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer - 3/5 STARS

I was really disappointed in this book.  I didn't like the characters and I thought some of the descriptions in it were boring.  I did a full review of this book, which you can find here.

Blood Vow (Black Dagger Legacy book 2) by J.R. Ward - 4/5 STARS

I really enjoyed this book and I liked Axe and Elise's story.  I can't wait to read more about the other trainees in the next books in this series.

Solanin by Inio Asano - 5/5 STARS

I was shocked by how much I ended up loving this book.  It's such a great book with a lot of powerful themes.  I highly recommend reading it.  I also did a full review of it, which you can find here.  

A Curious Tale of the In-Between by Lauren DeStefano - 4/5 STARS

I thought this was a fun book to read.  I loved the writing style of it just like I've loved the writing style of all of Lauren DeStefano's books. 

Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard - 4/5 STARS

I really liked this book. The main theme of this book is about friendships and the trials that come with them.  I really liked the friendship between the three main characters and I'd highly recommend this if you're looking for a female friendship driven story.

What books did you read in the month of January?