Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each week a new theme is suggested for bloggers to participate in. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want. Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to The Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post.
Today’s Top 10: Books Too Good to Review Properly.
Today’s Top Ten is the Books Too Good to Review Properly. The books on my list are Books That Were Difficult to Review
Some books are harder for me to review than others. Here is a list of books that were difficult for me to review for various reasons. Either they were a genre I’m not used to reading, or they were very emotional books, or they had twists that I did not want to reveal.
- Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult. This was so good, but difficult to review because of spoilers. It was so good.
2. In Every Generation by Kendare Blake. I found this review difficult to write because I’m not a super Buffy fan, so I wasn’t an authority on the original show.
3. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I found this review so difficult because it was hard to put into words how lyrical and beautiful the writing was.
4.. Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan. I don’t read much fantasy, so It’s difficult for me to review this book. Plus the writing was so beautiful, it was hard to put into words.
5. The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. This sweeping saga was long, and so much was going on in this book, that I found it difficult to review.
6. Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout was difficult because her writing style is very unique and it’s difficult to describe. Plus, I should have read the two previous books and I would have understood the book a lot more.
7. Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a very unique book, and I listened to this on audiobook. I found it hard to put into words how different and beautiful this book is.
8. Joan is Okay by Weike Wang. I enjoyed this book, but it was hard to review because it is so different than other books I’ve read.
9. Let Sleeping Murder Lie by Carmen Radtke was difficult because it was the first cozy mystery I’d read in a very long time, and It’s always difficult for me to review books that are outside my usual genres.
10. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. It’s difficult for me to review this book as it’s book one of a trilogy, and I can’t imagine reading/reviewing only one book as they are all so intricalty connected. I’ll probable just write one review for the trilogy. Also, I loved this series so much and it’s difficult to put into words how good it was.
Do you have trouble reviewing certain books? Comment below!
I agree, It’s difficult to write book reviews when you don’t want to give anything away. That’s one of the reasons I don’t do many actual book reviews. It’s just too difficult at times.
Thank you!
The only book I have read on your list is Where the Crawdads Sing (and I was and still am conflicted in my feelings for this book – totally agree with her lyrical writing!!!.. and those poems that are within as well..)
As for the others, at least half of them are on my TBR and I need to check out the others..
[And Wendy, a heartfelt thank you for being a regular visitor on my blog – I truly appreciate it]
And thanks to you for visiting here regularly! It’s so fun to get to know you through your blog
It is so hard to review properly without spoilers, as well as lengthy books and books in a series. I had Six of Crows on my list. Bardugo is a hard author to review with all the characters and layers to the worlds. Great list!
Thank you, Dedra! I agree spoilers can ruin an experience for a reader, so i try to be so careful.
I have not read any of these, although I want to. I think the reviews I struggle with the most are nonfiction or books I have meh feelings about and cannot exactly name why. I also struggle with reviewing classics because they are so well known and have been talked about to death. I cannot possibly add anything new or will have missed some deeper meaning that everyone will know I missed . . . It can be intimidating. LOL
Great Points, Wendy.
I’m always amazed at how you, and book bloggers in general, manage to come up with the words to write reviews at all! Lol!
I enjoyed reading this post.
Thank you Kim! It’s a challenge sometimes, but I like it.
I agree Wendy. It’s hard to put across one’s thoughts sometimes without giving away spoilers. Sometimes, like you, I struggle for words as well to describe how exactly I loved a book.
Thank you, Mallika. I’m glad it’s not just me!
Great list! I struggled with Daisy Jones and Where The Crawdads Sing as well. xx
Thanks, Yvonne. Nice to know it’s not just me!
I loved In Every Generation and Shadow and Bone. I can see where you mention for the second one I mentioned that it is hard to write a review for a book that is part of a series. I know when I go on to review second books it is always with a spoiler alert warning at the beginning and a link to the first book so I don’t ruin it for people who still plan to read it. Fun post!
Thank you, Lisa. That’s a great idea for a series book!
Super long, or cleverly twisting, very emotion or just so unique are indeed the toughest ones to describe. 🙂 Those are the ‘just go read them; you’ll have no regrets’ books. 😉
I agree, Sophia! They are so difficult
Books that I find difficult to review are those that are hard to review without spoilers or those that are outside my usual genre. Surprisingly, I have a hard time reviewing books I didn’t enjoy but everyone else did. I figure it must be me. I like your list Wendy.
I agree about the books I didn’t enjoy. These authors work so hard.
There are some books where the reviews are easy to write, but there are those that are quite challenging.
I agree, Nadene!
I love Reid’s books. Happy reading. My TTT https://readwithstefani.com/books-too-good-to-review-properly/
She’s so good!
Nice list. I agree that Shadow and Bone as a series is hard to describe.
Thank you Kami! I hope to get a review together soon for it, but it’s so hard.
Great list! I loved shadow and bone series and it’s good to see it in this list.
Thank you, Yesha. I will eventually post my review for it, I did love it very much.
I think writing reviews is the most challenging part of being a blogger!
Thank you, Rachel. I agree!
It’s so hard to find words to describe really beautiful books. Most of the ones on my list fit that category too. I need to find more like that to read these days.
Thank you Suey. That’s what I loved about today’s topic, is that I found so many amazing books. My TBR is getting so big!
Good choices and reasons. I understand how it is hard to encapsulate a writer’s style in a review if that style is so good it is outside the norm.
Thank you, Linda!
I want to read the Kendare Blake one (having liked her Three Dark crowns series) but I’m not a Buffy authority either!
It was really good. And I’m not a superfan, nor did I remember the tv show very well, and I followed the book really easily.
Great list! I like that you stated why it was hard to review each book. I haven’t read any of them, but many are on my never-ending TBR list. 🙂
Thank you Elyse. Those TBR lists sure can get out of control fast!
What a fun tag! I definitely want to add a few of these books to my list, especially Wish You Were Here. I agree that it can be hard to review a good book sometimes. Whether it’s a great twist or the story itself you don’t want to give too much away! Thank you for sharing your list!
Awww Thank you! Wish You Were Here was just so good and very unique.
I loved Daisy Jones and The Six (as I do most of TJR’s books). I loved the format of that one – so unique. I *think* I reviewed that one but it’s always hard for me to express how much TJR’s books impact me.
Thank you, Tanya! Her books are so unique and emotional.
I agree that some books are more difficult to review than others – especially to give a spoiler-free review. I find the most difficult books are the ones that I just didn’t connect to. Nothing wrong with the book, but really just not a great match for me.
Yes! Those are so hard to write. Thank you, Jodie!
I love Leigh Bardugo. I still haven’t read any Kristin Hannah though.
Here’s my list: https://speedyreadercom.wordpress.com/2022/02/15/ttt-books-with-names-in-the-title/
Thank you, Cindy. I am a new fan of hers!
I’ve heard good things about Daughter of the Moon Goddess.
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-books-too-good-to-review-properly/
Thank you, Lydia. It was a good one. I bit different, but I sure enjoyed it.
I’ve only read Shadow & Bone but I have the Sue Lynn Tan book on my TBR and it makes me excited that you loved it so much!
I sure hope you enjoy Daughter of the Moon Goddess. I really enjoyed it.
I need to move Where The Crawdads Sing up on my TBR list! I am going to look into several of these, thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you, Cindy. Where the Crawdads Sing is so well written. I listened to it on audiobook and loved it. But, It’s one that would be just as good reading it too.
I agree it is hard when there are spoilers which you don’t want to give away, and also when it is a genre you don’t usually read. I am finishing one at the moment which I am not sure how I am going to review 😊
I’m so glad it’s not only me that has trouble!
I must say that I’ve not read any of these. But I do agree sometimes writing a review that really shows your enthusiasm without giving away spoilers is harder than reading it!
So very true, Rosie!
I’m currently reading Daughter of the Moon Goddess and I have no idea how I’m going to review it! Great list, because I had problems reviewing Where the Crawdads Sing also.
Thank you, Rae!
Ir’s definitely hard to review books when you don’t want to give too much away. That’s often why I don’t do that many actual book reviews. Sometimes it’s just too hard😃
I agree, Janette!