Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten All Time Favourite Authors

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is: Top Ten ALL TIME Favourite Authors (yes - another Kanye of ALL TIME rant list) This is actually hard for me but not in the way it probably is for many of you. I just dip in and out of books that interest me. I have authors that I really like and admire but if I don't fancy the sound of their latest book, I won't read it just because you know? Also, whilst my Goodreads 'read' shelf might suggest I've read a lot by one particular author, it's usually just one series. In order to truly be an all time favourite author, I suppose you'd have to read more than one series. Anyway, I'll give it a go. 

MEG CABOT - I read so many of her books between the ages of about 11 and 21 - from Princess Diaries (obviously) to Nicola and the Viscount (I LOVED this one and used to re-read it often) to Queen of Babble. I keep meaning to start the Heather Wells series. Oh and after reading The Princess Diaries, I emailed her from my dad's email (because 11 year olds didn't really have their own accounts back then...) and she REPLIED. So Meg Cabot will always be on my all time favourite authors list. 

JONATHAN TROPPER - I just like his style and that the stories are often about a family going through something. My kind of story. Also, the books are often very witty but extremely heartfelt. 

SARA ZARR - Sara Zarr's contemporary YA is always so realistic. I like that she tackles the big questions and issues but doesn't preach at the reader. I really admire and respect her. 

COURTNEY J. SULLIVAN - Again, her stories are often about multiple families and close friends. So far, she has released three books and I loved all three but I have a special place on my shelf reserved for Commencement. 

RAINBOW ROWELL - How many authors can write outstanding adult AND young adult literature? I haven't found a Rainbow Rowell book that I didn't like (although I wasn't as in love with Eleanor & Park as everyone else but never mind). 

SARAH PEKKANEN - The women in her book are just so real and relatable. Great stories, great characters.

MELINA MARCHETTA - As with Rainbow Rowell, I haven't met a bad Melina Marchetta book as of yet. Plus she wrote the last two seasons (I think?) of one of my favourite television shows of recent times - Dance Academy. That alone is enough to warrant her inclusion on this list.

JENNY HAN - So, I have now read three different series by Jenny Han and I just absolutely love her wistful, nostalgic way of writing. My favourite character is Lara Jean (so far anyway). Jenny Han is also one of the only authors I follow on Twitter and she just seems like a cool person. 

JENNIFER ECHOLS - How many books has this amazing lady written? I feel like I'm always trying to catch up with the new releases. I like that you can go light-hearted with her romantic comedies like The Ex-Games or a bit more serious with something like Going Too Far. However, my favourite will always be The Boys Next Door duo - "calisthenics or what?!" 

SARAH DESSEN - The Queen of Contemporary YA. Do you agree? A bit like with Meg Cabot, I've been reading Sarah Dessen books since I was an early teen. My favourite will always be This Lullaby. In fact, I'm going to re-read it on holiday.

Top Ten Tuesday: Favourite Books of ALL TIME...well the past 3 years

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is: Top Ten Books I Would Classify as ALL TIME (like Kanye ALL TIME) FAVOURITE BOOKS from the Past 3 Years. I can't really tell you why I love these books other than the fact I believe they all have that extra bit of magic. 

GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn - I don't really need to add an explanation, do I? You either loved it or hated it. 

WINGER by Andrew Smith - Ryan Dean was such a memorable character and the ending really catapulted this one into the favourite books of ALL TIME archive. 

TELL THE WOLVES I'M HOME by Carol Rifka Burton - This book was extremely sad but very well written and atmospheric. There didn't even need to be a playlist in the back, you could just feel the soundtrack and the vibe - for want of a better word. 

THE BOOK OF BROKEN HEARTS by Sarah Ockler - As I said in my review, I don't know if this book won any awards but it should've done! Such a difficult subject matter dealt with warmth and humour and filled with unforgettable characters. 

THE ROSIE PROJECT by Graeme Simsion - The idea behind the book is fairly simple but it just goes to show that the characters really turn a good book into a great book. Don is tied with Ryan Dean on this list for favourite character of ALL TIME (or the past 3 years anyway). 

FANGIRL by Rainbow Rowell - This book came along at just the right time. We all needed Fangirl, didn't we? We all needed Cather and Wren and Levi and Reagan and fan fiction. Oh the days of fan fiction - I was well into the Harry Potter fan fiction way back when although I didn't write any, just beta'd. 

YES PLEASE by Amy Poehler & BOSSYPANTS by Tina Fey - Of course I had to include Amy & Tina. We all kind of look up to them now, don't we? Jam packed with advice for all of us lost twentysomethings (or thirty and fortysomethings. I'm sure you fiftysomethings have it all figured out now, right? Please tell me you have!)

FLAT-OUT CELESTE by Jessica Park - Again, the characters make this book. Celeste is really unique for a YA/NA character. I'd urge all contemporary fans (and anyone who's wary of contemporary) to give this book a go - even if you haven't read Flat-Out Love. 

CRAZY RICH ASIANS by Kevin Kwan - I've said it many times - I love my gossip sites. This book is scandalous and hilarious! I'll have to read it again before I go to Asia next year. No I haven't booked a ticket yet but maybe if I write it out loud, I'll actually do it. Speak (or write) your wishes into existence and all that jazz. 

ME BEFORE YOU by Jojo Moyes - I had this on my Kindle for ages - maybe even a year - but didn't read it because I didn't have high expectations. I don't know why but I am glad to say I was proved wrong. This book was perfect. Please read it if you haven't. Oh and for those who have read it - what do you think of the casting? Rather promising eh?!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Book Related Problems I Have

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is: Top Ten Book Related Problems I Have. I tried not to rant too much but failed at the end. Sorry!

Goodreads 

I love finding new books on Goodreads but the site has changed a lot and I now find it a little more unreliable than before. Books rated 4.2 stars often turn out to be not my cup of tea at all (one of the last books I read falls into this category). To be fair, this tends to be for YA/Contemporary books - especially if it's a romance and/or New Adult. I've said it before, experience dictates books classified as New Adult don't usually resonate with me. Actually, let's make NewAdult a separate point. TBC further down the list. However, getting back to Goodreads, I suppose from now on I will tread carefully when I see a book with a high rating. 

Exploring Other Genres 

I'm rubbish at reading outside of contemporary fiction. Maybe once a year I'll read a sci-fi/fantasy book. Occasionally, I'll pick up a non-fiction book. I do like memoirs but don't get to those enough either. I always say I'm going to diversify my TBR list - and I do note down interesting looking books outside of contemporary - but when it comes to parting with my cold hard cash, I'll usually stick to the tried and tested. 

YA Addiction 

I read too much YA. I know you should read what you like but I'm sure I'd benefit from reading more 'adult fiction'. I try to read one YA, one adult/other book each week but more often than not this turns into two YA. 

Too Many New Friends 

I should take a leaf out of Drake's book and introduce a 'no new friends' rule into my reading habits for the next few months. I don't take enough time to re-read old favourites or books published more than two or three years ago. 

Not Enough Debut Love

Having said that, I seem to miss debut novel releases and catch up on them a year later. I noticed this when looking through my 2014 read list in preparation for YA Superlatives. If I didn't have this blog then fine, I could read whatever. However, even though I don't have masses of followers and such like, I feel obligated to champion a few debut authors because getting published for the first time should be celebrated! 

E-Book Blackouts

Summer Roberts had rage blackouts. I have E-book shopping blackouts. On Sunday nights, I seem to leave it to the last minute to update my Spotify playlists for the train and sort out my reading for the week. As a result, I hit Amazon, iBooks, and Nook and panic buy. Then I start reading one of my new purchases and think 'what the hell?!' This is why you should only buy books from your thoroughly researched TBR lists. 

Review Laziness

More often than not I'll highlight passages and make short notes whilst reading so that I can refer to them when I write the review. Except I usually don't end up writing the review. For example, I really want to discuss After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid and I Was Here by Gayle Forman but I just can't muster up the energy to write a proper review/discussion. When I get home, after spending all day looking at a screen, the last thing I want to do is type something else. It's terrible but on the plus side, you know that if I do post a review I probably really liked the book (or had some time off). 

Bookseller Pressure

When I go into a bookshop - especially if it's a smaller one - I usually feel obligated to buy something because bookshop employees are usually really, really lovely. I should know - I was one! A lot of the time they won't have the books on my TBR list, so I browse the shelves and end up with a handful of books that end up on my bottom shelf or in the basket by my bed for YEARS. I cleared out a lot of them the other day for donation. Terrible waste. 

Diversity 

This is one of the worst things about my reading habits. I don't support diverse books enough when I really, really should if I want my future children to see themselves reflected in the books they're reading. 

New Adult 

I love books featuring 20-somethings growing up and making their way in the world. After all, I'm in the same boat. I love books set in the college environment. I wanted to go to an American university soooo badly, so I'm all for those novels. However, I haven't really found many NA books that I've enjoyed. 

I think it just has something to do with the label. It seems as though these books are often set in college or just after college and feature a hapless gal who is usually some kind of musical prodigy/dancer/artist/all round clever clogs with side-swept bangs and green eyes and lots of off the shoulder tops. She then meets a 'bad boy' either in the sense that he has tattoos and growls everything he says or he's the star of a sports team and a player in both senses of the word. They dance around each other for half the book before they finally get together and the rest of the book is just them hooking up - or even getting engaged! Yes, I've read ones where this happens, it's crazy (to me anyway). Occasionally they have to help out a sick parent or a child or something equally 'noble' but that's usually a very small part of the plot. 

I don't like to rant but that's how I feel. Now, if you can point me to a book classed as New Adult that does not follow that formula, send the recommendations my way and I'll happily give it a go. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I'd Love to Read if I Had A Book Club

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is: Top Ten Books I'd Love to Read if I Had A Book Club. 

I've never really belonged to a book club, so I just chose books from my TBR list that would (hopefully) generate discussion.

Top Ten Tuesday: First Encounters

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is: Top Ten New To Me Authors I Read In 2014. 

I glanced back at this year on Goodreads and to be honest, I'd say about 75% of this year's list is comprised of new to me authors. So, I whittled it down by saying 'ok, the story was great but how about the writing?' because you can have a brilliant story and some rather questionable writing, can't you? 

Top Ten Tuesday: Character Driven Novels

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is: Top Ten Books For People Who Like Character Driven Novels. 

To be honest, I think I only really read character driven novels. I rarely read action/adventure/sci-fi/plot heavy stories. So, to narrow this down, I think I'll stick to YA for today. As this is my preferred type of book, I'm looking forward to reading everyone's list!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books On My Autumn TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is: Top Ten Books On My Autumn TBR List.

To be honest, I'm still working through some of my spring and summer lists but these are some of the books that have caught my eye. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Authors I've Only Read One Book From But NEED to Read More

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is: Top Authors I've Only Read One Book From But NEED to Read More

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Underrated Contemporary YA Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is: Top Ten Underrated Authors or Books in X Genre

I only really read contemporary YA - I don't know if these are even underrated. They're just books I've given four or five stars that I don't see mentioned very often but obviously I don't follow every blog, so maybe someone, somewhere has hyped these too!

Top Ten Tuesday: My Lunch Table

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is: Top Ten Book Characters That Would Be Sitting At My Lunch Table

I will preface this by saying Harry Potter characters have been excluded otherwise they would occupy the whole list.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Really Want To Read But Don't Own Yet.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is: Top Ten Books I Really Want To Read But Don't Own Yet.

After writing my list, I realised it might come across as a bit ranty towards the UK bookshops I frequent (Foyles and Waterstones). I love my bookshops but often only impulse buy from them, which isn't a problem. After all, what is the point of going into a bookshop if you don't browse all the shelves? Anyway, this is because my actual TBR list skews very American and has done ever since I got my first Full House book in Orlando, aged 7. Thought it best to add this disclaimer in case I catch flack from a bookseller!

Played by Liz Fichera - I really liked Hooked so I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series. I hope we get to hear about Fred and Ryan!

#scandal and The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler - I just can't find copies of these in the UK. I think they're on Kindle but sometimes you just want the paperback. I have Fixing Delilah in hardback, and Twenty Boy Summer and Bittersweet in paperback, so I want to round out the collection.

The Cranes Dance by Meg Howrey - I love a ballet book but again haven't been able to find a paperback in a bookshop. Sure, I can get it from a seller on Amazon or whatever but I don't really like doing that. 

If I Lie by Corrine Jackson - I've had this on my list for a while but just never gotten around to purchasing it. 

For Darkness Shows The Stars by Diana Peterfreund - I WANT THIS SO BADLY! I even considered breaking my Book Depository rule to get it. I'll probably just have to wait until I cross the pond again. 

Quiet by Susan Cain - I'm pretty sure this book has made one of my TTT lists before and I still haven't got it. It's not even expensive anymore, I just always get distracted by the fiction in bookshops, which is terrible. 

We Are Called To Rise by Laura McBride - This was on my summer long list but I haven't even read half of the short list so buying books from the long list isn't an option at the moment. 

Jennifer, Gwyneth, and Me by Rachel Bertsche - I loved MWF Seeking BFF so I really want to read Rachel Bertsche's latest offering. 

Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham - Everyone said this is great. I've never seen a copy in my local Waterstones and a quick search tells me the only branch that has a copy is Cardiff. Helpful. 

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally - I NEED the latest instalment in the Hundred Oaks series, obviously. This is actually next in the queue for when I next go Kindle book shopping (I won't hold my breath for the paperback to appear in shops - I don't think I've ever seen a Miranda Kenneally book in Waterstones or Foyles).  

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books People Have Been Telling Me I MUST Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is: Top Ten Books People Have Been Telling Me I Must Read. I'll have to do this generally because people don't very often recommend books to me - that's usually my job! 

Chaos Walking Series by Patrick Ness - I've had a copy of The Knife of Letting Go for ages and read the first couple of pages but couldn't get into it. I've been told it gets better but who knows if I'll ever find out.

Butter by Erin Jade Lange - People have been raving about this for ages and for a long time it was on the 'must read' shelf at my local bookshop.

Unsticky by Sarra Manning - I really liked Sarra Manning's books when I was a teenager and my friend said her adult novels are just as good. However, I haven't gotten around to getting a copy yet.

My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece by Annabel Pitcher - This was a buzz book a few years ago and a couple of real life people (yes real life people!) actually recommended it to me. 

Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys - Same goes for this one. 

The Host by Stephanie Meyer - I haven't seen the film either. One day I'll get to it. 

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer - I've started it but never finished. I'm not good with terribly sad stories. 

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel - Again, I've started it. I can see why my friend and everyone else raves about it but...there's a BBC production due at the end of the year. I might just watch that instead - sacrilege, I know. 

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler - I've had this recommended to me a few times too and finally bought a copy at the beginning of the year. I might read it as the summer winds down (well, judging by our weather at the moment, summer is already OVER in the UK). 

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini - I believe I have been given two copies of this and look forward to eventually reading it. Actually, it's the kind of book I'm in the mood for now so maybe I'll start it this week.


I'm looking forward to seeing what's on everybody's lists because I'm guessing there won't be as many new releases compared to a list like 'My Winter TBR List'. Since I don't get too many recommendations sent my way (feel free to nominate yourself as my book recommender if you feel up to the challenge) I'm hoping to discover some hidden gems! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I've Read So Far This Year

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is: Top Ten Books I've Read So Far This Year

Winger by Andrew Smith - [My Review] Truly unforgettable. Ryan Dean is now one of my favourite characters ever. 

We Were Liars by E.Lockhart - [My Review] An example of pretty much perfect writing. The prose was simple, the story was spectacular. 

Chasing Forever Down by Nikki Godwin - I only finished this the other day but it's still in my head. The friendships in this story were beautifully written. Oh and there was lots of surfing! Always a plus.

How To Ruin A Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles - [My Review] Another beautiful story about friendship and cultural heritage. Funny too.

Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas - [My Review] - Perfect perfect perfect! If you've never read it, get a copy right away.

What's Up With Jody Barton? by Hayley Long - [My Review] - The twist would have been enough but Hayley Long also created a lovely family and portrays a London that is true to many of us here but doesn't often feature in London centric novels. 

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Epic. If you want to read a wonderful love story AND really learn what it's like to be a black woman in the 21st century, grab yourself a copy of this award winning novel. Or you can wait until Lupita's film version. 

Life In Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland - I seem to be ballet obsessed this year and this book helped add some real life perspective. A true story of triumph and genius. Hopefully one day I'll see Misty Copeland perform in real life.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion - [My Review] - Hands down the best rom-com I've read in years. 

Never Have I Ever by Katie Heaney - [My Review] - Brutally honest and extremely witty this book is great for teens and twenty-somethings.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books That Will Be In My Beach Bag This Summer

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is: Top Ten Books In My Beach Bag. I'm still working through my Spring TBR List and a lot of those books were summery, so I don't have too much YA on the list this week. 

Summer of Yesterday by Gaby Triana - Disney, time travel, the 80s - sounds like a perfect beach read.

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally - I will read anything by Miranda Kenneally and the plot of this one sounds like it will really showcase her talent. Can't wait to get my hands on it!

The Bridge From Me To You by Lisa Schroeder - I've heard comparisons to Friday Night Lights, which is always a winner, and it was recommended on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves so I'll definitely be reading it this summer. 

Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae - This has been getting really good reviews and sounds like a lighthearted, fun read. 

Nowhere But Home by Liza Palmer - More Friday Night Lights comparisons. Small town, secrets, football...I'm there. 

The One & Only by Emily Giffin - I liked Something Borrowed but never got around to reading the next one. However, this one has football in it so I'll give it a try. I like to read 'chick-lit' during the summer months.

The Best of Us by Sarah Pekkanen - I've read three Sarah Pekkanen novels and love her style of writing. For some reason, it's not very easy to get her books over here but I'm going to try and read this one and Catching Air. 

The Vacationers by Emma Straub - It makes sense to read holiday novels whilst on holiday. I do like novels that trap extended family members together on an island or something and leave them to simmer. 

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith - I only just read The Cuckoo's Calling a few weeks ago, so I'm intrigued to see what Cormoran does next. 

The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan - I read about Marina's story and this posthumous collection of essays in a magazine (maybe Elle US?) and decided I'd read it. So tragic.