I read a lot of books every year and with that comes a lot of duds. But this year it has taken me many, many tries to find a winner amongst a pile of just average reads. I am receiving a lot of books for review, but many of these books are just ok. And I know I could either not accept said books for review or DNF (which I do!), but here's the thing. I have such high hopes for these books and then when I read them they either really aren't for me or I am feeling just meh about them.
Or are my standards just really high since I have read so, so many awesome books?
Either way, I want to feel something more. Something more than just, "eh, that was a nice way to spend an afternoon." I want fireworks. I want magic. I want the kind of read that really sucks me and doesn't let me go. The kind of read that makes me not want to go about the business of my day, because I am so absorbed in the novel. And don't get me wrong, I have experienced that a lot in the past...Outlander, Sarah J. Maas, John Green, Jenny Han, The Nightingale, and Sarah Dessen...
But this year?
Not so much.
Just like Carrie Bradshaw, I am on the hunt for a real love when it comes to books. I want to fall in love with a book, not just feel lukewarm about it.
The last five books that have truly wowed me are: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, Cinder by Marissa Meyer, The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams, and The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord.
And only two of those books I read this year.
So, with that said, what books can you recommend me? In 2017, I think I am going to scale back on my review books and read more books that I want to read with the hopes that I will find more books I can truly connect with. It's not that I am in a reading slump, per se, but I am feeling disillusioned by many of the books crossing my path.
Has this happened to you? Are you experiencing that this year as well? Or does this just come with the territory of being an avid reader? Let me know your thoughts.
I am DEFINITELY experiencing this as well Christina! I kept thinking I was in a slump as has happened over the years and that eventually I'd find something to snap me out of it. While I've read some true highlights this year, it hasn't been consistent at all, and I've been struggling to stick with a lot of the books I've picked up.
ReplyDeleteI just checked my blog and I haven't given many books above a 4 this year, but the ones I did were The Others series, The Bird and the Sword (if you like fantasy romance), and Holding Up the Universe (contemporary YA). I so enjoyed all of those!
I'm glad I am not alone in this, Jenny! I will have to check out your recommendations. Thank you! I am going to try to read more books that I am interested in this coming year...hoping that will help! Thanks for visiting!
DeleteOooh, I know what you mean, I've gotten in ruts where everything is just so very MEH or a string of books that I pick up and just can't get into enough to finish. So sad. A few that's I've read and loved recently, though: The Forgetting (eeee, so good) and Shadow Bright and Burning. In looking back now, I haven't given a 5 rating to too many books this year. Huh. Have you read Game of Love and Death (pubbed last year)? I can't recommend that one enough. So amazing. I hope you find some true love books soon, Christina! :D
ReplyDeleteI will have to check out your recommendations, Becky! I think this year was sort of a slow year for "5 star" reads. That's the only thing I can think of. Thanks for visiting! I will have to check out Game of Love and Death for sure!
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