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Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Top Ten Books That Lived Up To The Hype

 

 Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Artsy reader Girl. Each week a new Top Ten list will be posted. Everyone is welcome to join. Link back so everyone can check out other bloggers' lists. It's a fun way to get to know fellow bloggers.

This week is top ten books that lived up to the hype.     
A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, #5)

My favorite book of A Song of Ice and Fire.  

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1)

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

 This one definitely lived up to all the hype, although Catching Fire is my favorite of the series. And I finally read these recently thanks to Shannon at It Starts At Midnight!

 Big Little Lies

 I heard a lot of hype about this book and when I finally read it I was blown away- definitely lived up! 

 City of the Lost (Casey Duncan, #1)

 Same here- see above  

 Dangerous Girls

 Ditto. 

 Fangirl

 This is the only Rainbow Rowell book I've read, oddly, but it totally lived up to the hype. 

 Gemina (The Illuminae Files, #2)

 My favorite of the series hands down. 

 One of Us is Lying

 If anything this more than lived up to the hype- I was expecting a fairly pedestrian YA mystery and got very compelling characters. 

 Radio Silence

 I'd heard some great things about this one but it surprised me how great it was! 

 The Shark Club

 I saw a little pre- release buzz for this one, not a lot, but I was blown away by it and how it juggled several different balls without dropping them. 

 Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories

 While not every story in this anthology worked for me, I still look back fondly on several of the stories- and would love to see more like this!
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61 comments:

  1. Grace @ RebelMommyBookBlogJuly 31, 2018 at 3:00 AM

    I agree with a lot you have up there. I didn't think of Dangerous Girls but that totally lived up to the hype for me too.

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  2. Jessica @ a GREAT readJuly 31, 2018 at 3:02 AM

    Ooh nice! I loved Gemina and City of the Lost! Great picks!

    Here's my Tuesday Post

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

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  3. Suzanne @ The Bookish LibraJuly 31, 2018 at 3:12 AM

    I'm glad to see A Dance with Dragons on your list since that will be the next GRRM book I tackle. :)

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    Replies
    1. GregJuly 31, 2018 at 4:37 PM

      I can't wait to see what you think of it!

      Delete
  4. Samantha@WLABBJuly 31, 2018 at 3:20 AM

    I will read ANYTHING Liane Moriarty writes. Big Little Lies was my gateway LM book, and I have zero regrets.

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    1. GregJuly 31, 2018 at 4:37 PM

      Same here. I read two of her books right after, based on that one.

      Delete
  5. chucklesthescotJuly 31, 2018 at 3:21 AM

    Yes to GRRM and The Hunger Games! I had to put both authors on my list too!

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  6. BarbJuly 31, 2018 at 5:42 AM

    Your Shark Club is like my Little Heaven - except for opposite reasons! I gotta see if my library has that book. I keep forgetting until I visit here, then I'm reminded all over again.

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    1. GregJuly 31, 2018 at 4:38 PM

      Ha at this point if I DIDN'T include it on a list something would seem wrong :)

      Delete
  7. Shooting Stars MagJuly 31, 2018 at 5:56 AM

    Love Illuminae and Gemina - still need to read the third one. I'm so with you on Dangerous Girls. Totally worth the hype! I still need to read Radio Silence and One of Us is Lying.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    Replies
    1. GregJuly 31, 2018 at 4:39 PM

      I really liked Radio Silence. And Gemina- so fun!!!

      Delete
  8. KellyJuly 31, 2018 at 7:24 AM

    The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet was such a lovely read! It kind of reminded me of everything I like about sci fi...

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    1. GregJuly 31, 2018 at 4:39 PM

      Same here, it became one of my favorite SF books overnight!

      Delete
  9. AymeeJuly 31, 2018 at 7:46 AM

    Big Little Lies was so good! It sucked me right in. And Fangirl has been on my TBR forever.

    Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!

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  10. https://booksthoughtsadventures.comJuly 31, 2018 at 7:53 AM

    I love that I have read and loved most of them. I always love your lists.

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  11. UnknownJuly 31, 2018 at 7:56 AM

    I absolutely love the Hunger Games series and of course GoT! Such a great list. Fangirl was so good too. I need to reread it. It has been a long time.

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    1. GregJuly 31, 2018 at 4:40 PM

      I might have to reread Fangirl too, it's been a few years now. And yes Hunger Games- so glad I finally read them!

      Delete
  12. Louise @ Foxes and Fairy TalesJuly 31, 2018 at 8:34 AM

    The A Song of Ice and Fire books are great! I've no idea how he keeps track of so many characters and their personalities. I really hope we get another book (sometime) soon.

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  13. RissiJuly 31, 2018 at 9:19 AM

    I've been meaning to read the 'Summer Nights' anthology, but keep forgetting it in the hype of all the new releases every month. Maybe someday I finally will. :D

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    1. GregJuly 31, 2018 at 4:57 PM

      It took me a while to get to it, but I enjoyed it (mostly)- like all anthologies, not every story worked, but there were several good ones.

      Delete
    2. RissiAugust 3, 2018 at 7:41 PM

      I had favorites and those I DNF-ed in the Christmas anthology too. But the good ones made up for those. :)

      ...thanks for visiting Finding Wonderland, Greg.

      Delete
  14. MellianeJuly 31, 2018 at 9:19 AM

    yay! I did read some of them in fact too

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  15. Brooke LorrenJuly 31, 2018 at 9:54 AM

    I didn't really care for Illuminae (didn't help that I read it on a Kindle) but maybe I should try Gemina one of these days. In print though. Especially if you say it's the best in the series. There are just so many other books though!

    I liked The Hunger Games well enough to read it in Spanish as well as English. I hope they release the next book in The Song of Ice and Fire soon...

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    1. GregJuly 31, 2018 at 4:58 PM

      Illuminae wasn't super awesome for me either. Gemina I thought was MUCH better.

      And yes we need the next book!!!

      Delete
  16. Tanya @ Girl Plus BooksJuly 31, 2018 at 12:05 PM

    The Hunger Games is a great pick. It definitely lived up to the hype... and then some. It’s like one the OG dystopians. Ha. Unpopular opinion time: I enjoyed Fangirl okay but I didn’t love it. Most of the time I was annoyed with Cath.

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    1. GregJuly 31, 2018 at 4:58 PM

      Exactly. I finally read THG and was not disappointed.

      You're not the only one- I know a lot of people weren't exactly blown away by Fangirl.

      Delete
  17. Ashley SappJuly 31, 2018 at 12:25 PM

    The Hunger Games was so great. It definitely lived up to all the hype.

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  18. KristinaJuly 31, 2018 at 12:41 PM

    I must of missed One of Us is Lying but it looks great. Will have to check it out. Loved the first Hunger Games book

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    1. GregJuly 31, 2018 at 4:59 PM

      It was good! Definitely worth a read...

      Delete
  19. Jordan @ForeverLostinLiteratureJuly 31, 2018 at 3:00 PM

    I've been meaning to pick up One of Us is Lying, so seeing your thoughts here makes me even more excited to do that. I definitely agree on Gemina, as well.

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    1. GregJuly 31, 2018 at 5:00 PM

      I hope you like it! I thought Gemina was fabulous.

      Delete
  20. AngelaJuly 31, 2018 at 4:29 PM

    I think I'm going to read Dangerous Girls next and I really can't wait, I've heard so many good things about it!

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    1. GregJuly 31, 2018 at 5:00 PM

      Ooh I hope you like it, I like seeing people's reactions afterward!

      Delete
  21. Alicia @ A Kernel of NonsenseJuly 31, 2018 at 5:23 PM

    I missed out on One of Us Is Lying, but maybe I'll give it another go come October. Glad to see it on your list!

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  22. Shannon @ It Starts at MidnightJuly 31, 2018 at 6:17 PM

    Oooh good call on Dangerous Girls! I had such a hard time coming up with 10 but now that I am seeing lists... I could have ha. LOVE that THG made your list- it was on my list that I started before quitting, too- as the OG YA hyped series! And definitely The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet! And Illuminae made my list too- I really should have finished it I guess hah. Great choices!!

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  23. Aj @ Read All The Things!July 31, 2018 at 6:33 PM

    I just added Radio Silence to my TBR list. I’ve heard really good things about it in the past few weeks. ASoIaF and Hunger Games made my list, too.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  24. UnknownJuly 31, 2018 at 7:45 PM

    I'm intrigued by City of the Lost. Kelly Armstrong is hit or miss for me though. Decisions decisions. Haha

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  25. Tracy July 31, 2018 at 7:57 PM

    I've read a few of these and I totally agree with The Hunger Games! City of the Lost was good too!

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  26. BiblioSanctumJuly 31, 2018 at 8:53 PM

    The Illuminae Files definitely lived up to the hype...the full trilogy did for me. I also really enjoyed ADWD even with all the fears that it wouldn't live up to the anticipation. I thought it was better than A Feast for Crows, at least!

    ~Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum

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  27. Anne@HeadFullofBooksJuly 31, 2018 at 9:16 PM

    The Shark Club. How original is that title! Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  28. Zeee @ I Heart RomanceJuly 31, 2018 at 10:04 PM

    I still can't bring myself to read the A Song of Fire and Ice series... especially since the series isn't over yet!

    I have yet to read Gemina but Illuminae was awesome! I also read that before all the hype so I didn't add that to my list :)

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  29. ChrissiReadsAugust 1, 2018 at 3:26 AM

    Oh yes! Dangerous Girls is so worth the hype!

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  30. MikkyAugust 1, 2018 at 8:46 AM

    I had The Hunger Games spoiled for me early on so I never got to reading it and only watched the first movie. Maybe I should go back considering how highly everyone speaks of it :)

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  31. Lauren StoolfireAugust 1, 2018 at 10:20 AM

    Big Little Lies isn't my go to type of book, but I was absolutely hooked! Great picks, Greg.

    Check out my TTT and please vote in my Make Me Read It Readathon poll

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  32. Katherine PAugust 1, 2018 at 11:16 AM

    I was so surprised Big Little Lies. I had just heard so much raving about it that I just couldn't believe it'd live up to it. I was surprised by The Hunger Games as well. I didn't really want to read it but ended up really enjoying it. I want to read Radio Silence and The Shark Club. Both sound intriguing.

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  33. AnastasiaAugust 1, 2018 at 12:24 PM

    Hunger Games yup ❤️

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  34. JennReneeAugust 1, 2018 at 7:39 PM

    big little lies I loved I was surprised how much I loved it! I also enjoyed fangirl, one of us is lying and dangerous girls. great list.

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  35. Sim @ Flipping Through the PagesAugust 2, 2018 at 4:18 AM

    Well, I haven't personally read any Game of Thrones book but I am huge TV show fan. I think the books got all the hype because of the TV series. I am glad that it lived up to your expectations :)

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  36. Annemieke | A Dance with BooksAugust 2, 2018 at 5:55 AM

    Yes to The Long Way. I can't wait for us to start book 3 :D

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  37. Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction AddictionAugust 2, 2018 at 7:36 PM

    I agree with all of the ones I've read. Of course, Hunger Games is a definite favorite!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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  38. La La in the LibraryAugust 3, 2018 at 6:26 AM

    The Long Way certainly did live up to to the hype! I loved The Hunger Games, but liked each successive book less. I remember that I was interested in Radio Silence, but now I don't remember why. Ha ha. I'll have to look at it again. :)

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  39. Anna (herding cats-burning soup)August 3, 2018 at 7:15 AM

    Fangirl did look like a fun one :)

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  40. LynnAugust 6, 2018 at 5:17 AM

    Great list! I really need to read The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet! Have a wonderful week!

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