You know I usually say I never read a book when everyone is talking about it, right? But I am here to show you that I have read some books at the right time. And of course, I forgot to review them right then, which is quite like me of course.
So in our new episode of review shots, let me tell you about books that were not on my TBR and I read them only because of the hype. Well, that never turns out quite well, does it?
Books that I read only for the hype
Book Name: Everything, Everything
Author: Nicola Yoon
Genre: Fiction – Romance, Young Adult
Characters: Madeline “Maddy” Furukawa Whittier, Oliver “Olly” Bright, Pauline Furukawa Whittier, Carla Flores
Setting: Los Angeles, California, The USA
This YA took the Twitter world by a storm and I got the book almost immediately to read it.
Maddy led a very sheltered life all through her life due to her illness. She has never stepped out of her house in years and her mother and her nurse are the only one she interacts with. Them and her book blog. Until a new family moves to their next house.
I liked the book and would have loved it even until for the twist at the end, which I didn’t see coming at all. I normally would love to be thrown off, but this twist was kinda ‘trying too hard’. I also didn’t like the theme that ‘love conquers all, even illness’ that kept surfacing.
I loved reading the story, for the cutesy cheesy love story but it didn’t win my approval.
Book Name: Turtles All the Way Down
Author: John Green
Genre: Fiction – Romance, Young Adult
Characters: Aza Holmes, Davis Pickett, Daisy Ramirez, Mychal Turner, Noah Pickett
Setting: Indianapolis, Indiana, The USA
You all know my beef with John Green.
This book had everything that the book world is talking about and needs now. Turtles All the Way Down has #Ownvoice leads, one of whom suffers from mental illness and a mystery the leads had to solve in relation to their parents. Sounds all good to me.
Yet I could not relate to the characters at all, nor did I buy their ‘love story’. Did I mention this book had an absentee parent as well? I know lots of people loved this book but for me it ended as a so-so read because of these reasons and more.
I wanted to like it more than it deserved any way. And probably will stay away from John Green hereon.
Book Name: My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry
Author: Fredrik Backman
Genre: Fiction – Drama
Characters: Elsa, Granny, Alf, Britt-Marie, Kent, Ulrika, Lissete, George
Setting: Sweden
Oh I loved Backman’s other book A Man Called Ove and I started reading this one almost immediately. But it took me more than a month to finish this 350 and odd pages and I will tell you why.
The precocious ‘almost eight’ years old Elsa has just lost her grandmother to cancer. Her grandmother was also her best and only friend, who kept her safe at night with the tales of the Land of Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas.
Now she is set with the task of handing over apology notes to the wacky characters in their apartment for her grandmother’s past and getting to know more about them and her family as well.
I liked the concept of the book and how the little girl learnt to deal with all the changes and new people in her life. I loved many of these characters and their sub plots. But the book totally went over my head when it came to the imaginary land and its people.
Maybe there is a reason to why I don’t read fantasy much.
Bottom – line
Of course I don’t regret reading them at all. But I wish I hadn’t tried as hard to like them and gave up when I should have. Well, lesson learnt. Maybe.
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Let us talk
Do you read books because everyone is reading them? Are there books that you have read only because of the hype and that didn’t turn out as expected? Let us talk.
I know! I just can’t get into John Green, and I don’t know why. Everyone loves him, and I just don’t connect with any characters!
That is exactly my thought as well towards his characters.
I have Turtles all the way down on my shelf but I have read 2 Green books before and didn’t like them so I’m a bit nervous to give him a third chance. I’m not sure I will ever read Everything, Everything. I did love My Grandmother Told Me To Tell You I’m Sorry though!!
Great post, I haven’t read any of these books yet but I do have a physical copy of My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry which I really want to read next year. And I also want to read Everything, Everything as well. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome post.
You should tell me how you like them after you read them.
Sorry that you didn’t enjoy these books. But Turtles All the Way Down was my favourite book last year 🙁 I loved it so much. But I guess everyone has different taste and it’s okay to not like what everyone else is liking 🙂
I agree. And I know several other bloggers who loved it as well.
I’m glad I’m not the only one that didn’t enjoy My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry. I didn’t get the novel at all!
And I thought I was alone on that one. Glad I found a company.
We don’t have to like all the books we read or are popular. 😉
That is exactly what I have been telling myself too.
My son read and I think enjoyed Turtles while ‘My Grandmother…’ has been in my sights for a while.. 🙂
and wanted to let you know I nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award on my most recent post – love reading your posts always – https://www.ladyinreadwrites.com/blogger-recognition-award/
Thanks for the nomination <3 I will do my best to catch up on those tags.
I love your posts!
Your comment made my day!!
I’ve not read any of them but have had Everything, Everything sat on my shelf for a long time.
Give it a try, you might like it. Maybe.
I’ve purchased Everything, Everything and Turtles All the Way Down but I haven’t read them yet. Hopefully, I enjoy them!
Let me know how it goes!
I love mini reviews. Sorry to hear these didnt quite live up the the hype. It’s a shame when that happens.
Gemma @ http://www.gemmasbooknook.blogspot.com
I had fun reading them though. So all is good.
I LOVE this post! I’ve not read any of them but I have seen every aboard the hype trail lol!
I rarely do and when I do I fail miserably.
I’m kind of the opposite. I usually stay away from hyped books and when I find a new book by chance I usually only check negative reviews. I love being positively surprised by stories, that also helps me appreciate the authors’ work more and this is a great way to get just that 😀
I don’t get to read most of the hyped books as well. I usually jump into new books without reading the blurb even!
I think that this highlights that what one person loves is just not another persons cup of tea. I liked reading your thoughts.
I definitely do not get to be on the majority on this one. I am okay with it too.
Great mini reviews! I enjoyed Everything, Everything for the story. The meaning behind it didn’t work for me. But not all hyped up books are great so it’s alright.
I agree on that!
Very nice reviews about what let you down. I don’t rush out and grab hyped books anymore for this very reason. Well, almost never:) Now I usually download samples and trust the recommendations of friends if they’ve read it.
That is a very smart thing to do. I should try doing that now.
I have had “My grandmother asked me to tell you she’s sorry” on my TBR for awhile and I own a physical copy of it actually. I really should get around to reading it sooner rather than later. I didn’t know that there was any fantasy aspects to it, but now that you have said there is I am more intrigued than ever.
If you like fantasy, which I know you do, you will enjoy it better than me..