Hello everyone and welcome back to another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl.
This week’s prompt is — made me do it. Basically I’ll be sharing the books I picked up due to outside influences. So, without further preamble, here we go!
A Book Podcast Made Me Do It…
This recommendation came from Liberty Hardy via her All the Books podcast where she talks about new releases. This book ticks a lot of my boxes but what sold was the similarities it seemed to have to The Incendiaries by RO Kwon. I still haven’t read but it- are we really surprised- but hopefully I can remedy that soon.
This recommendation came from Brea over on the Reading Glasses podcast I have actually read this one and really enjoyed it. I picked it up in the wake of the controversy over another book that had been billed as an immigrant story. Marisol and her little sister are granted asylum on the condition that Marisol become a grief keeper for a mentally ill American. There is a lot of social commentary and it’s heavy but I enjoyed it a lot and appreciate what the author was trying to do.
This fantasy retelling of Tristen and Isolde was recommended on Book Riot’s When In Romance podcast. The last book of the trilogy comes out this summer and I am so excited I can hardly contain it. Perez creates an atmospheric world with lush descriptions and complex characters. if you love romantic fantasy you need to pick this one up!
A Librarian Made Me Do It…
*Read the Professional Book Nerd podcast made me do it but both hosts are librarians so they get their own section in this post
Edit to add: Adam kindly reached out and reminded me that he and Jill are not actually librarians but work for the library-adjacent company Overdrive (which I knew but it’s day 28 of quarantine so here we are!). So I wanted to clarify that.
Not only did Adam and Jill introduce me to one of my favorite reads of last year but they brought the works of Mindy McGinnis to my attention and I can never thank them enough for that. I have since read almost all of Mindy’s Backlist and I have no regrets.
Once upon a time I wrote in to the Pro Book Nerds podcast requesting Readalikes for books like Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrabd and The Bear and the Nightengale by Katherine Arden. This was the only book that they recommended that I hadn’t read so I went out and bought immediately and absolutely adored it!
I spent some time away from reading and then came back to it and discovered bookish podcasts. One of the reasons I love Jill and Adam is because we share a mutual adoration for all things cults. Blood and Salt was mentioned numerous times and so I caved, picked it up and surprise! I loved it.
The Cover Made Me Do It…
I still haven’t read this book but the cover is gorgeous! In person all the orange is shiny and beautiful and the outline of the dragon just makes this book feel so atmospheric. I haven’t read this one but if the story is half as good as the cover is beautiful, I’m in for a treat!
On one fated night I was walking through B&N and I saw this beauty staring back at me and I of course took her home and devoured her in 24 hours. This book is so underhyped and all the characters are terrible but I loved them all their wicked, morally grey decisions.
One winter, I wanted to read wintry books and when I went into B&N and asked the bookseller brought this to me and I knew I couldn’t leave the store without her and I loved every book of this trilogy. It was just so beautiful and utter perfection as far as fantasy novels are concerned.
Bookstagram Made Me Do It
I cannot believe it, but not only did Bookstagram make me buy this Twilight-wannabe of a novel, it made me PREORDER it! During a pandemic! This book better he good. This is the first book I have pre-ordered all year. So yes, Bookstagram made me do it and I am still shook from the impulse buy.
What About You?
What do you think of our list? What compels you to buy a book? Let us know in the comments!
Ooh a podcast would be a good place to get book recs, seems like. there are so many amazing podcasts out there… I wish I had more time to discover more of them.
Sweet Black Waves- wow I love that cover! And Crave too!! Awesome one.
Here’s our page dedicated to bookish podcasts (https://stuckinthestacks.com/bookish-podcasts/)
I highly recommend Sweet Black Waves. So atmospheric and we’ll written! Also, Bronwyn is a fantastic and compelling protagonist.
Fingers crossed that Crave is good. We shall see.
Thanks! I had not seen that. Awesome list. 🙂
Oh, I like your title so much. I agree on Not Even Bones getting much attention, it’s so underrated. The Bear and the Nightingale is one of the books I read at wintertime.
It definitely deserves more love! I recommend it whenever I can.
Just the covers of most of these book would keep me up at night jumping at every strange sound. http://pmprescott.blogspot.com/2020/04/ttt-040720.html
Love the theme you chose this week! Librarians and my favorite authors have made me read books before (well, they didn’t hold a gun to my head but…). Usually I end up really liking the book!
Yes! Librarians are the best!
I’m hoping Crave is good too!! It does look rather Twilighty… but it has to be better, right???
I love Mindy McGinnis!! I just finished her newest one, but haven’t read Heroine yet. I love how all of her books are so different from one another!
It sounds so much like Twilight but my trusted sources on Bookstagram say it’s quite engrossing and that’s what I need right now so here we are.
You should definitely pick up Heroine. It’s a heavy read but so important and thought provoking.
I’ve never listened to a book podcast before. Which one would you recommend for a first timer like me?
I’ve also got crave on my TBR, but I’ve not bought it yet.
Here’s mine https://bookwormsanonymous.blog/2020/04/07/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-bought-because-i-loved-the-cover/
We have a page dedicated to bookish podcasts (https://stuckinthestacks.com/bookish-podcasts/)
But for beginners I would recommend:
The Professional Book Nerds
Reading Glasses
Currently Reading
Book Riot
For A Muse of Fire is great, definitely recommend! It does have a stunning cover.
Oh I will have to pick it up soon. It sounds so good!
The Grief Keeper sounds really good. And I agree with Greg about a podcast being a good place to get book recs.
My TTT .
I adored The Bear and the Nightingale so much! Still need to read the second and third book in the series, but I’m keeping that for next winter 😀
My TTT: https://www.traversingchapters.com/top-ten-tuesday-ten-books-i-bought-because/
Haha nice! The other two books are just as amazing. I hope you enjoy them!
Oh my gosh, covers! The good ones get me every time. I’ve heard amazing things about Not Even Bones, thanks for reminding me😁
Always happy to remind people about an amazing book. Definitely not for everyone but if you like unlikeable characters and body horror, it’s a good one!
I really liked Heroine. I’ve been wanting to pick up Crave because of how much I’ve seen it on instagram and twitter. I’m sure I’ll enjoy it, but I still need to buy it and see.
I love how you chose to do this topic! I’d really love to read more from Kim Liggett and I still really need to read Heroine. The Bear and the Nightingale is so beautiful and perfect, totally agree. 🙂
I’ve always wanted to read Blood & Salt, but I think it might be too dark for me.
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