Is It Worth The Hype #1

Hello, ladies and gentlemen and other lovely humans. Welcome to The Left-Handed Book Lover's first ever episode of Is It Worth The Hype, in which I will discuss books that have been persistently raved about within the community.

Are you nervous to crack open a novel beloved by seemingly all book fanatics? Well, this is the place to come for some real talk about those books. Obviously, it is still a matter of taste and opinion, but I am going to try to take a (somewhat) subjective look at these popular novels to help you determine whether or not they are right for you.

1) Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

The quick answer: YES, it is worth the hype. 

The long answer: This novel has A LOT going for it, even if it's not your typical sort of read. I'm not particularly experienced with science fiction, but I think this book contains something for everyone. 

The authors are incredibly creative with the formatting of this novel, meshing different forms of media--police reports, computer files, camera roll recaps--making this clunker of a novel go by incredibly quick (plus the pacing is excellent). The different forms of media allow the authors to incorporate a variety of different voices and perspectives, all of which are fun and interesting. 

This book contains sufficient action and romance and sci-fi goodness and emotion. Somehow it manages to be just an incredibly FUN novel while also being intense and heartbreaking. I was confused at first, but as the story progressed, everything clicked together and erupted into this amazing, unforgettable story.

I firmly believe that everyone's reading experience is different and that there are novels certain people just will not enjoy. Illuminae, however, is a book I'd recommend everybody at least TRY, even if it seems to deviate from your reading comfort zone. 

2) To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Now, we're COMPLETELY switching gears here.

The quick answer: Maybe--will only appeal to a certain audience. 

The long answer: This series is tricky because while I really enjoyed it, I recognize that it's not for everybody. First of all, if you don't typically enjoy contemporary novels, go ahead and skip this one. It's very cute-sy, character-driven, and romance-focused. It's not especially profound or even exciting. If it takes something ~special~ for you to enjoy a contemporary novel, this isn't it. 

HOWEVER, if you do like contemporary novels, it's a whole completely different story. Obviously, there are many different kinds of contemporary novels, and this one is more on the fluffy side. If you're looking for a breath of fresh air, this is definitely worth the hype. Lara Jean is a bit naive and sheltered, but it's hard not to be charmed by her and her family's innocence. They're definitely not perfect people, but they are kinda pure and adorable. 

Personally, I find this series just has a memorable vibe to it that helps it stand out from a lot of YA contemporary books. It's not the most beautifully written or the most original, but it's worth the hype because of the way it will make you feel when you're finished reading it. 

3) Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

The quick answer: No, it's not really worth the hype.

The long answer: I read this book last summer and enjoyed it, but I still don't think it deserves all the praise it gets. First and foremost, let's get this out of the way. This novel's ending is problematic. And, quite frankly, even if it weren't problematic, I still think it's a cheap ending. Like, the author could have come up with a "twist" more creative than that. 

I'm sure there are people who are going to completely disagree with me on this, but there's not much about this novel that sets it apart from the slew of contemporary novels at our disposal. The premise is interesting, but the characters aren't really memorable. 

I can point you to tons of other YA contemporary books that have a more complex romance, a more feasible and interesting plot, better emotionally-developed characters, etc. It was an enjoyable read in the moment, but nothing spectacular. 

If you were uncertain about any of these novels, I hope I provided you some helpful insight. And if I didn't...oops. My bad. 

If you've already read these hyped books, do you agree or disagree with my takes on them? What books do you think are or are not worth the hype? Let's chat!!

Top Ten Books That Surprised Me

(This meme is actually hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl now, but I am far too lazy to make a new graphic)

As devoted readers, I think that we tend to have a pretty good idea of which books we will enjoy and which books we won't, but occasionally a book comes along and surprises us--which can be a good thing or a bad thing. I present to you five books that I liked much more than I expected and 5 books I disliked more than I expected. 

1) Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman - Whenever there is a lot of hype surrounding a book, I try to brace myself for disappointment, but this novel exceeded my expectations. It is addicting and fun and I fell in love with the characters. 

2) Coming Up for Air by Miranda Kenneally - I'd read some of Kenneally's other books in this series, and while they were okay, they were nothing worth raving about (for me--other people adore them!). However, I really enjoyed this one! I thought it had depth and lots of kissing and really good messages. 

3) Caraval by Stephanie Garber - This is another book I was hesitant to read because of the hype but it completely stole my heart. It was an emotional roller coaster. The whole novel kept me engaged and eager to find out what happens next. 

4) Aftercare Instructions by Bonnie Pipkin - I didn't know what to expect from this one, but it was gritty and interesting and had fascinating, unique formatting. 

5) And I Darken by Kiersten White - This one was completely unexpected. I'm not really one for historical fiction or dense YA novels, which this one definitely is, but I fell so in love with the characters and the story. I couldn't stop talking about it for months! 

1) Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher - I can't even put my finger on what was disappointing about this. I ate it up in like one sitting, but, in retrospect, it just wasn't that riveting. 

2) The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder - I was expecting something beautiful and poignant with a premise that sounded interesting and magical. That's not what I got. The emotion in this book was unconvincing and the protagonist was infuriating. I was completely unsatisfied at the end of this novel. 

3) Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard - I thought the first book in the series was really interesting and I was invested in the characters, but this sequel was boring and painful to get through. The ending picked up a bit, but not enough. 

4) Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs - This book just reeks of creepiness and darkness and FUN, but it was really slow. And not really creepy. 

5) A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas - Maybe it's my fault for letting the hype get to me, but I was completely underwhelmed by this book. Again, the ending was pretty good, but it was such a struggle to get through like 2/3 of it. 

Favorite New-To-Me Authors in 2017

Sometimes it is so nice to sink into a book by one of your favorite authors. To go into a book knowing it's going to be wonderful because it's written by someone you trust. On the other hand, though, there's something exhilarating about falling in love with a new author's words.

So.

Here are some authors I read for the first time in 2017, whose books I adored, and who I will definitely be on the look out for in the future.

1) RILEY REDGATE

What I read: Noteworthy 

My review

Other books by this author: Seven Ways We Lie

Coming June 12, 2018: Final Draft 

2) BONNIE PIPKIN

What I read: Aftercare Instructions

My review

3) STEPHANIE GARBER

What I read: Caraval

My review

Coming May 29, 2018: Legendary

4) JENN BENNETT

What I read: Alex, Approximately

Other books by this author: The Anatomical Shape of a Heart

The Arcadia Bell series

The Roaring Twenties series

Coming April 3, 2018: Starry Eyes

5) JULIE BUXBAUM

What I read: What to Say Next

My review

Other books by this author: The Opposite of Love

After You

Tell Me Three Things

Coming May 14, 2018: Picture a Blue Sky

No available cover

6) AMIE KAUFMAN AND JAY KRISTOFF

What I read: Illuminae and Gemina

Coming March 13. 2018: Obsidio

7) SANDHYA MENON

What I read: When Dimple Met Rishi

Coming June 5, 2018: From Twinkle, with Love

THOSE ARE MY FAVORITE NEW-TO-ME AUTHORS IN 2017! DID YOU READ ANYTHING FROM THESE AUTHORS? WHICH FANTASTIC AUTHORS DID YOU DISCOVER IN 2017?

My Favorite Books of 2017

I know, I know. We still have a couple days left of 2017 so I could potentially still discover a new favorite to add to the list, but I don't know how much reading I'm going to be doing, so I figured I'd take my chances. Here are my top ten favorite books of 2017 (in no particular order).

1) What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum | (MY REVIEW) - This books gave me so many emotions. It was sweet and heartbreaking all at the same time. This is a beautiful contemporary novel and features a character on the autism spectrum. ★★★★½

2) Caraval by Stephanie Garber | (MY REVIEW) - This was an absolute roller coaster of a read. It had my emotions ALL OVER THE PLACE. And it certainly kept me on my toes. It was a wild, all-consuming ride and I loved every single second of it. ★★★★★

3) Noteworthy by Riley Redgate | (MY REVIEW) - A SINGING BOOK!! And a good one at that. This novel was so fun and explorative, a novel that stands out among the trillions of YA contemporary books at our disposal. ★★★★¼

4) Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - Holy shit this book (and its predecessor) is such an exciting, crazy read. It starts out a little slow, a little confusing and then it picks up speed and flies. I could not turn the pages fast enough. The characters are great and it's told in such an interesting format and I cannot wait until book 3. ★★★★★

5) Aftercare Instructions by Bonnie Pipkin | (MY REVIEW) - This one certainly took me by surprise! It's a bit gritty and complicated and left my feelings all sorts of confused. It alternates between standard formatting and play formatting, between past and present. It was a truly wonderful reading experience. ★★★★★

6) Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson - Morgan Matson is an expert at characterization. I fell in love with all the characters in this novel and cried so many tears. Everything she writes is beautiful and relatable and speaks to my heart. ★★★★

7) Heartless by Marissa Meyer | (MY REVIEW) - I fucking love this book and I will never stop loving this book. It was so fun and interesting and exciting until it broke my heart into five gazillion pieces. Freaking incredible. ★★★★★

8) Once and For All by Sarah Dessen | (MY REVIEW) - Sarah Dessen is the queen of all queens, okay. This book was both lovely and tragic. And very Sarah Dessen. Let's just leave it at that. ★★★★½

9) Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples - I read the first half of this graphic novels series last year, but I re-read it this year and continued on and it's SO GOOD. The art is incredible and the story is addicting and the characters are so bad ass. ★★★★★

10) Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett - This book is very much in the vain of Sarah Dessen and Morgan Matson, so of course I adored it. It's cute and emotional and so real. ★★★★

Those are my favorites of 2017. WHAT ARE YOURS? DO WE HAVE ANY  IN COMMON?

Jingle All the Way Book Tag (Year 2)

This is a Christmas book tag I created last year and so I figured I'd bring it on back for round two.

JINGLE BELLS

A fun, light-hearted book/series 

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Okay, so this novel isn't ENTIRELY sunshine and unicorns, but it's really heckin' fun and cute.

I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUSE

A book/series with a scandalous romance

The Saga series by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

This entire graphic novel series basically hinges on their scandalous relationship and their even more scandalous child! Now Everybody and their frickin chinchilla is hunting them down and all we can do is hope that their love (and their lives) can stand the trillion trials and tribulations they undergo. 

I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

A book/series you are determined to re-read

Shatter Me series by Tahareh Mafi

I've been wanting to re-read this series for a while now, and with the new book (!!!!!!!!!!!!) coming out, I absolutely HAVE to re-read it. 

SANTA CLAUSE IS COMING TO TOWN 

Your most anticipated release of 2018

Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

This was incredibly difficult because there are so many books coming out in 2018 that I need in my life (more than usual, it seems--maybe because I've read more new releases this year so I gotta get the sequels in my hands stat), but I picked Obsidio mostly because I finished Gemina like a week ago and it was incredible. I need to know what happppppppens. 

SILENT NIGHT

A beautiful book/series that everyone knows

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

This book is obviously beautiful to look at, but the writing is beautiful and the characters are beautiful and I'm in love with this book. Feel free to check out my review from earlier this year!

WINTER WONDERLAND

A book/series with great worldbuilding

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

This is the first book I read in 2017 and it remains one of my absolute favorites (Take a gander at my lil review if you want to read all my nonsensical gushing). One of the reasons it was so utterly captivating and magical is because the world that Marissa Meyer gives us is quirky and, yeah, based on Lewis Carroll's world, but also completely her own. 

GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN

An underhyped book/series that is so great you want to tell everyone about it

What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum

I wasn't really sure what I was getting into with this novel, but I fell in love with it. It's a romance but it's more than a romance. And it has autism rep. It broke my heart and sewed it back together. I cannot understand why more people aren't talking about this novel (but you can totally read my review if you wanna know more about it).

I SAW THREE SHIPS

Favorite trilogy

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

All right, well, fuck me because I have read very few trilogies in their entirety. This was tough because Delirium is one of my all-time favorite novels, but I'm not as fond as the rest of the books in the series. I mean, they're not horrible or anything, but they are by no means on the same level as the trilogy's first installment.

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER

A book/series with an underdog protagonist who rises up

Noteworthy by Riley Redgate

When I think about this trope, I don't usually think about contemporary novels, but in a way, most contemporary books fit this description. Noteworthy has excellent character development, and I really loved to see how Jordan, the protagonist, started from the bottom and rose to a whole new level of happiness and talent and awareness. (My review for anyone interested.)

HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS

A book/series that helped you get through troubling times

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Okay, this is the only answer I'm keeping the same as last year, because this will always be my answer to a question like this. I could write an entire post about this. In fact, I have! Check out the guest post I did over at Book Nerds Across America if you're curious how deeply significant this book is in my life.

And that's all for the Jingle All the Way book tag! I'm not going to tag specific people, but I encourage you to do this if you think it sounds fun!!! 

Ten Books I'd Buy Right This Second If Someone Handed Me A Fully Loaded Gift Card

LOL you know if I had a fully loaded gift card I would not be stopping at ten books. I would buy out the ENTIRE STORE. But I guess, for the sake of lists, I will limit myself to only ten.

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski - Everybody talks about how amazing this series is! And, let's be honest, in reality I'd buy the entire trilogy,  but I only said the first one so I could have ore books on my list :)

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo - I'd buy this partly because everyone raves about it, but also partly because it is such a BEAUTIFUL BOOK with its gorgeous cover and sprayed edges. I need it on my shelf.

The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh - I'd get this one for pretty much the same reasons I've listed above--it's so pretty and everyone seems to love it and also it just sounds so interesting.

The Selection by Kiera Cass - I've wanted to read this novel since it was first announced! I've always been so intrigued by the premise, and I've heard that, although not written the best, these books are like crack.

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson - The only Matson book I haven't read yet!!!!! I need this in my possession ASAP.

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer - I actually read an ARC of Cinder wayyyy back in the day, and I really enjoyed it. I've been dying to re-read it and continue this series for years!

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - Yes, yes. I know. I am the only person on the face of the earth who has not read this book yet, but ONE DAY I WILL.

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows - This book is supposed to be a ton of fun, and I've never read anything like this, so I'm dying to get my hands on this one.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare - With the release of Lady Midnight, I've been wanting to re-read this series SO BADLY but, oh, wait, I can't because the ONLY BOOK IN THE SERIES I DON'T OWN IS THE FIRST ONE. And I want it in the original hardcover, which is surprisingly difficult to find for cheap.

And I Darken by Kiersten White - Wow, so if you haven't heard I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH HOLY CRAP. It's one of my favorite books I've read this year and I need it to be on my shelf.

I've gotta say--I made this list and I am surprised by the lack of contemporary books on it, seeing as that's the only thing I've wanted to read recently. Hmmm. 

Tell me which books you'd buy if you had unlimited funds!!